KYTC says it happened at 2:43 am Trigg County 911 Dispatch received a call that indicated a tow boat had hit the bridge and that some members of the crew were injured, with one thrown overboard by the impact. The caller further indicated the injured had been placed on a nearby barge. As emergency response efforts ramped up, dispatchers and US Coast Guard personnel were able to determine it was a 17 to 18 ft. Jon boat instead of a tow boat.
Trigg County Emergency Management Director David Bryant who was on-site with deputies and emergency medical personnel from both Trigg County and Marshall County, said three workers were reported injured when the small boat hit one of the piers on the existing bridge. He added that those injuries appeared to be non-life threatening. The small boat was believed to be supporting construction activities on the New Eggners Ferry Bridge just downstream from the existing structure.
Had a commercial tow boat been involved, the US Coast Guard normally would ask that the bridge be closed to vehicle traffic immediately, then summon a certified bridge inspector to run a safety check on the bridge structure.
Members of the watch team at the Coast Guard Regional Operations Center in Louisville were puzzled that the pilot of the boat had not contacted them as required after they received notice of the incident. It was only after they were able to contact the person who made the initial 911 call that they determined it was a much smaller boat.
David Bryant said Kentucky Fish and Wildlife had been contacted to assist with the investigation of the incident and that more information would likely be available after they prepared a report.
