A tugboat and three barges sank Sunday after being swept over a dam spillway on the Ohio River by currents made stronger by heavy rains, killing three crew members. One person was missing and believed to be aboard the sunken boat.
Six crew members aboard the Elizabeth M. were rescued, and two of them were taken to a hospital, said Thomas Llewellyn, fire chief in Industry, Pennsylvania.
The tug was headed north pushing six barges of coal when it went through the flood gates at the Montgomery Dam shortly after 2:30 a.m. and was apparently pushed by strong currents against the dam, Llewellyn said.
"He was shoving out of Montgomery lock and dam and something happened -- we have no idea -- and the boat went over the dam," said Don Grimm, president of tug owner Campbell Transportation Co.
Two other tugs arrived to help in the rescue, pulling four people from the water and two from the boat, Llewellyn said. The missing crew member was believed to still be on the boat, which was almost completely covered by water. Further attempts to reach that person would have to wait until the waters recede somewhat, he said. "The water is just absolutely too high. You can't do anything," Llewellyn said.
