GALVESTON, Texas (AP) — Early estimates indicate up to 2,000 gallons of oil may have spilled into surrounding waters when a barge carrying fuel broke free from a tugboat and slammed into a bridge near Galveston, Texas, the U.S. Coast Guard said Thursday. The barge crashed into a pillar supporting the Pelican Island Causeway span on Wednesday. The impact caused the bridge to partially collapse and cut off the only road connecting Galveston to Pelican Island, the Coast Guard said. Video shows splotches of oil had spilled from the barge into Galveston Bay. Jeff Davis of the Texas General Land Office said during a news conference Thursday that early cleanup efforts have not identified any impacted wildlife. The barge has the capacity to hold 30,000 barrels, but was holding 23,000 barrels — approximately 966,000 gallons — when it struck the bridge, Rick Freed, the vice president of barge operator Martin Marine, said at the news conference. Freed said the only tank that was compromised in the crash was holding approximately 160,000 gallons, which is the “complete risk.” |
Gausman pitches 7 innings for first win as Blue Jays cool off Dodgers with 3Crew chief says Judge should have been called for interference on slide during Yankees' rallyVientos hits 2Stars breathe new life into series with the Golden Knights entering Game 4Nicole Kidman wins AFI Life Achievement AwardRose Lavelle scores in Gotham debut for 1Crews to extinguish fire from train derailment near ArizonaOklahoma man beat his girlfriend up while she was pregnantNFL mock draft 2025: Titans take Carson Beck No. 1; Giants select Shedeur Sanders in top 10Prince Harry and Meghan to visit Nigeria in May for Invictus Games talks