The Mississippi River had to be closed near Destrehan after a towboat, pushing a pair of barges loaded with sulfuric acid, collided with an upbound towboat. The collision caused the loaded towboat to sink and its barges to break free. One of the barges sustained damage and caused the release of sulfuric acid vapor into the air. The source of the release has been contained and the state Center of Toxicology and Environmental Health has been contracted for air monitoring. Four crew members went into the river as the damaged towboat sank. One crew member was rescued by a passing boater. That person was transported to a hospital, their condition is not known. A search for the three other crew members used watercraft and a helicopter from the Coast Guard. There will be more developments in this story.
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