I just heard about this tragedy on WWL-TV:
Five men who planned to take part in a weekend fishing tournament died when their 24-foot aluminum boat ran under one end of a barge, Louisiana officials said. Three were from the Houston area.
Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Capt. Samuel Martin said the boat hit the moored barge late Wednesday but wasn’t discovered until Thursday morning. He said the men apparently hit their heads on the barge’s slanting underside.
A worker spotted the accident scene Thursday morning when he saw one of the victim’s bodies on the barge. The victims 24-foot boat smashed into the barge…. The men were last seen leaving Dulac around 10 p.m. Wednesday night. Investigators said the barge had some lights on it, but they are investigating to determine how many.
The crash happened about 60 miles southwest of New Orleans on the Falgout Canal between Theriot and Dulac . The barge was being used by a crew stabilizing the bank…
Could this tragic accident have been avoided? My heart goes out to the families of those lost in this horrible accident. When commercial industry comes in contact with recreation safety precautions must be taken. Did the barge owners follow the simple navigation rules required when moored in the middle of a waterway? Three lights are required on the back of this barge, red, green and white. Red on the side closest to the bank which means don’t pass on this side, white in the middle and green on the side you are allowed to pass on. Were these rules followed? If so, were they checked for brightness or battery power? Maritime law allows for compensation to the families of the victims. Let’s hope the barge owner comes forward and does the right thing.
Richard J. Arsenault, 2011
