A barge struck a support of a train trestle bridge over the Tennessee River near Neyland Drive on the night of Oct. 10, railroad company CSX and the U.S. Coast Guard told Knox News.
The CSX bridge is just downstream of the Henley Street Bridge. The incident, which caused no reported injuries or damage to the bridge but produced a loud crashing sound, occurred around 9:40 p.m.
A Bearcat tugboat was pushing three barges downstream when one of the barges collided with the bridge, Coast Guard Petty Officer James Hague told Knox News via email.
“Currently, there are no reports of pollution or injuries,” Hague said. “Reportedly, no water entered the barges and the tow was secured. Currently the cause is still under investigation.”
CSX said in an email the Knoxville Police Department reported the incident on Oct. 10 near Neyland Drive. The tugboat was able to continue its journey shortly after.
“The Coast Guard and Tennessee Fish & Wildlife were quick to respond and assess the situation,” CSX said in an email. “There were no reported injuries or damage to the bridge. The incident is currently under investigation.”
Though the exact cause of the crash is unknown, eyewitness Dan Boatwright said the barge appeared not to be well-lit in the dark. The crash was booming, said Boatwright, a retiree who lives by the river.
“It was very dark out. The only light I saw on the barge and tugboat were the two bright white lights on the tugboat. On the barge itself, it was really dark,” he said. “I didn’t actually see it hit. I just heard it. It was really loud, though. … It sounded like rock against metal.”
Since Hurricane Helene brought historic flooding to East Tennessee, much of which carried into the Tennessee River, the Tennessee Valley Authority has warned boaters of high and fast flows.
The incident on the CSX train bridge is unrelated to the prolonged closure of the Gay Street Bridge, which is due to structural concerns with misaligned steel pieces.
Daniel Dassow is a growth and development reporter focused on technology and energy. Phone 423-637-0878. Email daniel.dassow@knoxnews.com.
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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Barge strikes bridge over Tennessee River near downtown Knoxville
