Kentucky Sues Crew of Barge That Collapsed Bridge

Kentucky transportation officials are suing the crew of a cargo ship that struck and collapsed part of a bridge over the Tennessee River in western Kentucky.

The state Transportation Cabinet says in a lawsuit moved to federal court this week that it spent at least $7 million to repair the Eggner’s Ferry Bridge after the Delta Mariner struck it on Jan. 26, 2012. The cabinet’s lawsuit says the ship’s crew ignored warnings from the U.S. Coast Guard about the bridge’s navigation lights being out.

A message left for Seattle-based Foss Maritime, the owners of the cargo ship, was not immediately returned Thursday.

The wreck caused a 322-foot section of the span to collapse. The bridge carries traffic from near Aurora, Ky., to Land Between The Lakes National Recreation Area.