Video: Barge strikes Highway 80 Bridge

VICKSBURG, Miss. (VDN) — Yesterday afternoon, around 3 p.m., a barge struck pier four on the Old Highway 80 Bridge in Vicksburg.

The towboat Rickey Hughes, owned and operated by American Commercial Barge Lines, was southbound on the flooded Mississippi River at the Vicksburg bridges when it made contact with pier four. Initial reports indicate the tow experienced a mechanical failure and lost steering as it approached the bridge. No injuries were reported in the event.

Several barges broke away from the tow after striking the pier; one of the barges remained lodged against the pier. Another barge was initially believed to have drifted into the Interstate 20 bridge at Vicksburg.

However, this morning, Herman Smith, Superintendent with the Vicksburg Bridge Commission of Warren County, reported, “After reviewing the video, no barges struck the Interstate 20 bridge.”

Rail traffic on the Old Highway 80 Bridge was halted at 3:05 p.m. on Thursday and was cleared to operate at 5:02 p.m.

Smith provided the following video of the Rickey Hughes making contact with pier four on Thursday, May 1, 2025 at about 3 p.m.:

The United States Coast Guard and local authorities are investigating the collision. No additional information is available at this time.