Towboat Goes Over Dam; 3 Dead

Investigators from Coast Guard Marine Safety Office Pittsburgh are responding to an overturned towboat in the Ohio River, near the town of Industry.

The Coast Guard was notified at 3 a.m. that the M/V Elizabeth M and three of the vessel's six loaded coal barges went over the dam and sank downriver from the Montgomery Lock, near mile marker 31 on the Ohio River.

Local agencies and crewmen from several nearby towboats, including the Rocket, Sandy Drake, and Lillian G responded to the overturned vessel.

Three victims were recovered at the scene. Three survivors were rescued and transported to Beaver Valley Medical Center and Aliquippa Hospital. One crewmember remains missing.

Names of all crewmembers are being withheld, pending notification of family members.

The remaining three barges sank above the dam.

A safety zone is in effect from mile marker 31 to 36 on the Ohio River.

An investigation is ongoing. Plans are being developed to recover the sunken towboat and barges.

The Elizabeth M is owned by Campbell Transportation of Charleroi