VICKBURG, Miss., Feb. 2 (UPI) -- A line of crude oil-carrying barges collided with a Mississippi River bridge in Vickburg, Miss., halting traffic on a nearby interstate and causing a fire.
The barges struck the bridge, which carries Kansas City Southern Railway trains, Thursday but missed a second bridge that carries automobile traffic on I-20, the Jackson (Miss.) Clarion-Ledger reported Friday.
The road was re-opened after it was confirmed only the train bridge was struck.
No injuries were reported and Herman Smith, superintendent of the Vicksburg Bridge Commission, said it appeared two gas lines crossing the bridge were not damaged by the barges.
Smith said the company that built the bridge is expected to inspect it for damage Friday.
WJTV-TV, Jackson, reported the barge that caught fire was carrying as many as 150,000 barrels of oil. The station said the burning barge continued to float down the river, and it was not immediately determined whether oil continued to leak from the vessel after the initial collision.
