Fisherman killed when boat stalls in path of approaching barge in Texas, officials say

A fisherman was killed when a barge slammed into his boat near the Texas coast, officials told news outlets.

The angler was one of two men aboard the boat during a fishing trip in the Laguna Madre — a bay on the west side of Padre Island — on the morning of Tuesday, June 11, the U.S. Coast Guard told KRGV.

While in the bay, their boat suffered a mechanical failure and could no longer move, officials told the station.

The boat was dead in the water, and in the path of an oncoming barge, KVEO reported. There was nothing they could do as the vessel approached and collided with them, running over their boat, according to officials.

Witnesses rushed to rescue the men from the water, officials told the station.

According to officials, one of the anglers survived but the other didn’t make it, KFXV reported, adding that neither of them were wearing life jackets.

The Coast Guard says it is investigating the incident, the station reported.

It’s a roughly 115-mile drive south from Corpus Christi to reach Laguna Madre.

This story was originally published June 13, 2024 at 12:05 PM with the headline "Fisherman killed when boat stalls in path of approaching barge in Texas, officials say."