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Several people suffered injuries when a Kentucky steamboat crashed into a parked barge. The boat accident took place along the Ohio River and occurred at approximately 1:45 PM on Saturday afternoon, October 17, 2009.
The Belle of Louisville was pushed into a parked barge by strong winds about a quarter-mile north of Harrods Creek, north of Louisville. Officials report that between six to eight people suffered injuries when the force of the impact knocked them to the ground.
The injuries appeared to be minor, said Vince Luney, a 911 supervisor. He did not know for sure how many people were involved in the crash.
According to the ship’s chief executive officer Linda Harris, the ship was carrying about 280 passengers, as well as about 20 crew members, when the Belle struck the parked barge. She said that many of the passengers were elderly.
The Louisville Metro Fire & Rescue, the Metro Police River Patrol, the Harrods Creek Fire Department and the Oldham County Fire Department all reportedly responded to the scene.
The steamboat was on a public cruise that had left around noon that day when the accident took place.
The crash reportedly caused the Belle to lose power and caused serious damage to the paddlewheel.
The U.S. Coast Guard is expected to assist in the investigation and help determine the cause of the accident, Belle officials said.
