Barge sinks after hit on Mississippi River bridge

VICKSBURG, Miss. (AP) - At least one barge has sunk after a string of 30 barges hit a bridge over the Mississippi River at Vicksburg.

U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer Erik Brehaut tells The Vicksburg Post that the tug Jeffrey G was traveling south downriver when barges hit a bridge Thursday afternoon.

It wasn’t immediately clear which of the two bridges at Vicksburg was struck. Both the Interstate 20 and Kansas City Southern Railway bridges remained open.

Warren County Sheriff Martin Pace says several barges broke free and one sank. Pace says vessels from Ergon Marine helped contain other loose barges.

Pace says the barges don’t contain hazardous material.

The Jeffrey G is owned by Marquette Transportation Co. of Paducah, Kentucky. The towboat is based at St. Louis.

The U.S. Coast Guard is investigating.

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Information from: The Vicksburg Post, http://www.vicksburgpost.com