Definition of Legal Terms
Legal terms guide! Need to know a legal definition
like affidavit, arbitration and/or adjudication?
Commercial Truck Accidents Resource
Commercial trucks pose an extraordinary risk. How to legally treat an accident is vital to receiving just compensation.
West Cote Blanche Bay, Louisiana - The uninspected towing vessel Miss Megan was pushing two deck barges in the West Cote Blanche Bay oil field in Louisiana, en route to a pile-driving location. Barge Athena 106 was tied along the port side of barge IBR 234. The Miss Megan was secured astern of IBR 234, pushing both barges. The Miss Megan was crewed by a licensed master and a deckhand. The construction barge had six workers on board, consisting of one foreman, one crane operator, and four barge hands. While the vessels were under way, the aft spud (a 5-ton steel shaft used as a mooring device) on the Athena 106 released from its fully raised position. The spud dropped into the water and struck a submerged, buried high-pressure natural gas pipeline. The resulting gas release ignited and created a fireball that engulfed the towing vessel and both barges. The master of the towing vessel was killed, along with four barge workers. The Miss Megan deckhand and one barge worker survived. One barge worker is officially listed as missing.
The National Transportation Safety Board determines that the probable cause of the accident was Athena Construction’s failure to require its crews to pin the spuds securely in place on its barges, which allowed the sudden, unintentional release of the Athena 106’s aft spud, rupturing a buried pipeline and causing natural gas to surface and ignite. Contributing to the accident was the failure of Central Boat Rentals to require, and of the Miss Megan master to ensure, that the barge spuds were securely pinned before getting under way.
The Safety Board’s investigation of this accident identified the following safety issues:
Failure to use safety devices.
Limited oversight of vessels not subject to inspect
If you or your loved one have been in an accident that involved a serious injury, know your legal rights by contacting the nearest Accident Attorney.
Legal Disclaimers
All attorney listings are a paid attorney advertisement, and do not in any way constitute a referral or endorsement by an approved or authorized lawyer referral service. The information provided on Accident Attorneys.com is not intended to be legal advice, but merely conveys general information related
to legal issues commonly encountered. Your access to and use of this website is subject to additional Terms and Conditions.
Local Professional? Generate new business today
Call 866-227-9356 or contact a sales rep
Blink-182 Pilot Was Warned Before Deadly Cras... Staff Writter, Dec 15, 2008 Celebrity plane crashes that result in fatalities and injuries are not new and in many cases have become common place scenarios where negligent pilots are to blame....
Another Train Accident Occurs In Los Angeles... Staff writer, Sep 19, 2008 A bus that was out of service turned in front of the train. The impact of the accident knocked the front car of the train off its tracks, while the other cars remained on...
