Gravel barge sinks on Ohio River near Pittsburgh

EMSWORTH, Pa. (AP) — The U.S. Coast Guard is investigating the sinking of a barge filled with gravel west of Pittsburgh on the Ohio River.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers says the barge sank about 6 p.m. Wednesday. That’s when a captain of the Connie K tow boat radioed workers at the Emsworth Lock and Dam to alert them he had a barge taking on water. The tow boat crew was able to cut the sinking barge loose so other barges being towed wouldn’t sink, too.

The Coast Guard says the barge is owned by Campbell Transportation which has hired a salvage operator to raise the barge so it won’t block river traffic. That was supposed to be completed sometime today, but it’s unclear where those efforts stand.