Boat Hits Bridge, Blocks River Traffic

A 30-barge tow struck a Mississippi River bridge on Friday, sinking two barges and closing the river for about six hours.

Traffic stacked up until officials determined the barges weren’t a hazard and reopened the river.

Two barges loaded with small stones broke loose and sank when the Joseph Patrick Eckstein tried to pass under the U.S. 82 bridge.

The two-lane bridge connecting Lake Village and Greenville, Miss., was closed briefly while officials looked for damage.