Bridge collapses in Kentucky after being rammed by hulking freighter carrying space rocket parts

[WKUHilltopper]

Well, that oughter buff right out...


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Bridge collapses in Kentucky after being rammed by hulking freighter carrying space rocket parts

By Associated Press

Last updated at 7:15 PM on 27th January 2012


Incredible images emerged of a hulking freighter wearing mangled pieces of a steel bridge on its bow after a collision in southwestern Kentucky Thursday night.

In the pictures, the 312-foot Delta Mariner idles, still partially in the bridge's path, and clearly looks much too large to fit beneath the aging Eggner Ferry Bridge, which crosses the Kentucky Lake Reservoir.

The cargo vessel was carrying space rocket parts for the United Launch Alliance, intended for a vehicle that was scheduled to be shot into orbit from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.
Delta Mariner

Wreck: The cargo ship Delta Mariner slammed into the bridge spanning the Kentucky Lake in southwestern Kentucky Friday, causing the bridge to collapse
Delta Mariner

No injuries: Thankfully, no one was injured when the hulking freighter plowed into the aging steel bridge

Two sections of the bridge, which is the only route across the lake and the Tennessee River, collapsed after the crash.

Unbelievably no one was injured after the collision, though one driver described the harrowing experience of slamming on his breaks and stopping just a few feet short of oblivion after finding the bridge suddenly stopped.

Robert Parker, 51, of Cadiz, Kentucky, said he and his wife were traveling northbound on the highway after leaving his stepson's house in Murray, Kentucky. They were driving in the rain along the darkened bridge around 8pm when they suddenly noticed a missing 20-foot piece of the bridge, which at that section stands at least 20 feet above the water.

'All of a sudden I see the road's gone and I hit the brakes,' he said. 'It got close.'

Mr Parker said he stopped his pickup within five feet of the missing section. Two cars behind him stopped on his bumper and he saw another car on the other side of the missing section stopped.
Ariel view

Ariel view: From the sky, it's apparent just how large the ship in compared to the bridge
Delta Mariner

Backup: The Delta Mariner idles with parts of the bridge still on its bow after knocking out the US Highway 68/Kentucky Highway 80 route across Kentucky Lake

State officials are inspecting what's left of the bridge.

Kentucky Transportation Cabinet spokesman Chuck Wolfe says inspectors began the in-depth review of the Eggner Ferry Bridge at US Highway 68 and Kentucky Highway 80 at daylight Friday.

'At this point, we don't believe there was any loss of life,' said Keith Todd, spokesman for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet.

He said there also were no injuries on board the boat. He was unable to say where the ship was traveling when it struck the bridge.

Officials said the collapse meant vehicles needing to cross the Kentucky Lake reservoir and the Tennessee River had to be detoured for dozens of miles. The Coast Guard blocked access to boat traffic at the bridge site.

Mr Parker said he didn't feel the vessel strike the bridge but "felt the bridge was kind of weak." They had to detour about 50 miles to return home to Cadiz.

Officials say about 2,800 vehicles travel daily on the bridge, which was due to be replaced.
Eggner Ferry Bridge Collapse Locator

Vital route: For the 2,800 cars that travel it every day, the Eggner Ferry Bridge is the only route across the Land Between the Lakes in southwestern Kentucky for dozens of miles
Eggner Ferry Bridge

Rocket parts: The ship is carrying pieces of a space vehicle that were bound for a launch from Cape Canaveral, Florida


Read more: Bridge collapses in Kentucky after being rammed by hulking freighter carrying space launch equipment | Mail Online

[LivnForChrist]

oops.

[mattfivefour]

Thank God that nobody was killed ... or even injured! \o/

[YeuEmMaiMai]

*patiently waits for one of the following stories*

1. Captain had hot blonde on the bridge
2. Captain was toasted
3. Some other un qualified officer was on duty
3. "Opps I ddin't see the bridge there"

[Meg]

How in the WORLD did the guy piloting that ship get that job??!!!?? Good morning Captain Oblivious, that boat's just a wee little bigger than that bridge... !!!

[Robert]

There may not have been anyone hurt in this incident, but nonetheless I find it extremely disturbing. We are talking about a bridge that was utilized by the public, which has effectively been taken out of commission by gross incompetence. There is no reasonable explanation that I can think of why a ship of that size would be taking a route that could not accommodate it safely.


Not to mention that this specific bridge is the only bridge for that area for quite a considerable distance.

[Elijah's Mantle]

makes one wonder for sure
what were they thinking temporary idiocy maybe

[readyforhome]

*patiently waits for one of the following stories*

1. Captain had hot blonde on the bridge
2. Captain was toasted
3. Some other un qualified officer was on duty
3. "Opps I ddin't see the bridge there"
4. "Captain Investigated after Bridge Collapse."
4. "Where did that come from?"
5. "It'll move out of the way when I get close enough."
6. "I thought the bridge was taller than the top of my ship." They usually post the height restrictions on bridges after all, and I'm sure they had access to that information anyway.
I am glad no one was hurt or killed because of this. Though they will need a new bridge to replace the old one. That is a scary picture, but it is a good thing no one was hurt.

[mattfivefour]

To be followed by "I tripped and fell into a lifeboat."

[SonSeeker]

To be followed by "I tripped and fell into a lifeboat."

[WKUHilltopper]

Well, it is Kentucky after all. Did you really expect the Duke boys to let this go to waste?

[mattfivefour]

I didn't even know they had computers let alone Photoshop!

[AndyM]

Looks like from the picture that he missed the section where the bridge was higher. Who knows but then again he is only human.

[israelmybeloved]

Terrorists! Now they are targeting bridges. You know I am sure that every captain going down that reservoir has got the measurements to every bridge along the way and the height of the ship they are steering, rather from that area or not. Seems fishy to me.

[ShilohRose]

I have driven across that bridge, but it was a good number of years ago because we've moved, but it's scary seeing that. I can't imagine how terrified those people, who stopped just shy of tumbling into the water, must have been.

[MikeD]

My thoughts exactly AndyM. Looks like the Captain picked the LOWEST section of the bridge to cross under. This is a fear of mine with all the bridges we have down here in Southern Louisiana. I can't even imagine the 18 mile long bridge going across the Atchafalaya Basin being taken out. The amount of traffic going across I-10 is unbelievable. That would be a night mare I honestly would NOT want to even think about.

[king'sbloomingrose]

Guys, it was foggy, rainy weather that day. It's possible that the captain just may not have seen where and what was going on!

[Robert]

Guys, it was foggy, rainy weather that day. It's possible that the captain just may not have seen where and what was going on!

I understand what you are trying to say, KBR. But the captain should have known ahead of time that the bridge was too low to go under; bridges have a specified height listed, and that would have been taken into account during route planning. No matter what the weather conditions encountered, a bridge that is too low is still a bridge that is too low.

[Meg]

Guys, it was foggy, rainy weather that day. It's possible that the captain just may not have seen where and what was going on!

My Dad was a boater, and we have been up inland waterways by boat when I was a kid. Even fog and rain wouldn't be an excuse/explanation, because boats actually go very slowly. Top speed in a boat is actually 9-15 mph, the high end being a sail boat in a good breeze. On top of that, a ship like that would have radar and computerized charts. There simply is no decent explanation, believe me!

[WKUHilltopper]

Guys, it was foggy, rainy weather that day. It's possible that the captain just may not have seen where and what was going on!

There's been some reports that the KY Water Safety folks didn't respond to people calling in and reporting lights pointing to the proper channel were out prior to the smash up. It hasn't just been rainy in KY, but major down pourings.