Tug capsized on Mississippi

The 'Vincent J. Eymard' pulling an empty barge capsized in the morning of March 17, 2018, forcing the closure of a four-mile stretch of the Mississippi River. The tug capsized some time before 9:30 a.m. but the crew was able to escape to another tug, the 'Ellysa' with no injuries. The 'Ellysa' also took control of the one empty barge that the 'Vincent J. Eymard' was towing. The Coast Guard has closed the Mississippi between mile markers 177 and 173. The tug capsized near mile marker 175. The Coast Guard was investigating the cause of the incident, but the river was in high-water conditions and was expected to hit its crest in Baton Rouge this weekend. The wreck had about 3,000 gallons of diesel fuel on board, but the Coast Guard said there were no reports that the fuel was leaking.