Kanawha River Remains Closed Because of Sunken Towboat

Charleston Gazette - 20 April 2010
By The Associated Press

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A major commercial waterway in West Virginia remains closed as Coast Guard crews deal with a sunken towboat.

Coast Guard Lt. Commander Eric Denley says salvage crews are expected to arrive at the scene Wednesday, but it will be Thursday before efforts are made to lift the towboat Misty Dawn off the bottom of the Kanawha River.

The boat sank early Monday morning between Winfield and Poca. One person died.

Denley says since the boat sank in the middle of the river, barges can't pass. At least eight barges have been halted because of the accident.

Denley says divers went down to the boat on today to close fuel vents to keep an estimated 4,000 gallons for fuel from leaking into the river.