Barge accident investigation still ongoing

Jan. 28--The Coast Guard only now is wrapping up its investigation of a barge accident at the Brooks Bridge last March that halted traffic and ultimately led to serious discussion of replacing the aging structure.

Coast Guard Petty Officer Matt Sherman in Panama City said about two weeks ago that he expected the investigation would be "wrapped up and finished" within a week or two.

Efforts to reach Sherman since then have been unsuccessful. Coast Guard officials were unable to update the status of the report Tuesday.

Once completed, though, it will be forwarded to Washington, D.C., for review, Sherman said previously. It won't be available to the public until the review is complete, which could take another month.

The Florida Department of Transportation and Okaloosa County are waiting for the Coast Guard to reveal its findings. The DOT and the county are seeking reimbursement for damages.

County officials sent a bill for $37,843 to T&D Towing of Morgan City, La., in December.

It asks the company to pay the cost to repair a water line running across the bridge that was ruptured when a crane on the barge pushed by the tugboat Miss Lizzy hit it. T&D Towing owns the Miss Lizzy.

The company has not responded to the request for payment, said Greg Real, the county's director of risk management.

DOT spokesman Ian Satter said the agency "will be looking for reimbursement" for its costs to repair Brooks Bridge.

The bridge was closed travelers for about three hours after the accident March 20, 2013. Motorists were forced to detour north of Choctawhatchee Bay.

"We have to assess the report" before billing the party or parties liable for the bridge damage, Satter said.

After the bridge was struck, Fort Walton Beach and Okaloosa Island business owners aired their worries to the Greater Fort Walton Beach Area Chamber of Commerce.

Those worries eventually were expressed to state Sen. President Don Gaetz, who helped secure $3.5 million for a study for a new bridge.

Contact Daily News Staff Writer Tom McLaughlin at 850-315-4435 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @TomMnwfdn.

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