On May 15, 2024, a significant incident occurred in Galveston, Texas when a barge collided with the Pelican Island Bridge. The bridge connects Galveston Island to Pelican Island and is the only way for people to access the island by land. According to various sources, including ABC News and KHOU, two barges were being pushed by a tugboat when one lost control and hit the bridge pillar, causing damage and an oil spill into Galveston Bay. The incident resulted in temporary closures of about 6.5 miles of waterway.
The bridge collision caused power interruptions on Pelican Island, which is home to Texas A&M University at Galveston. One lane of the causeway reopened around 2:30 p.m., allowing those stranded on Pelican Island to leave. However, it's important to note that a part of the train trestle that runs along the bridge had collapsed as a result of the collision.
The barge was owned by Martin Petroleum and was carrying vacuum gas oil, a heavy oil byproduct of vacuum distillation of crude oil. The amount spilled into Galveston Bay is unknown at this time, but officials from the U.S. Coast Guard are assessing the situation.
The incident comes just weeks after another bridge collapse in Baltimore when a container ship hit the Francis Scott Key Bridge, causing it to fall into Baltimore's harbor and killing six construction workers. The vulnerability of bridges to strikes has been highlighted by recent incidents involving barges.
This article aims to provide a comprehensive and factual account of the incident without bias or deception. It is important for readers to be aware that mainstream media sources cannot always be trusted without external evidence, and it's crucial to consider multiple perspectives when forming opinions on current events.
