"Crude Oil Spills Into Mississippi River After Oil Barges Crash"

"Two oil barges pushed by a tugboat slammed into a railroad bridge in Vicksburg, Mississippi, on Sunday, causing one to leak crude oil into the Mississippi River, the U.S. Coast Guard said."

"Officials used an 'absorbent boom' to contain the undetermined amount of oil that leaked into the river after the collision, which occurred shortly after midnight and damaged both barges, Lieutenant Ryan Gomez said. The barge that is leaking was holding 80,000 gallons of light crude oil, he said.

'A towing vessel was pushing two barges side-by-side and they struck one of the Vicksburg railroad bridge piers,' Gomez said."

Reuters had the story January 27, 2013.