GALVESTON, Texas – Audio from first responder dispatch in Galveston is showing the reactions and response after a barge struck the Pelican Island Causeway Wednesday.
The barge carrying fuel struck the bridge just before 10 a.m. Wednesday. The collision forced the causeway to shutdown, closing the only access point to and from Pelican Island.
“A possible boat that hit the bridge and a power line down and maybe fuel in the water,” a first responder can be heard saying in the audio, provided by Broadcastify.
An oil spill was also reported following the collision. The U.S. Coast Guard has been called to assist in the response to the spill and portions of the Intracoastal Waterway have also been closed due to the spill.
“I’m underneath the power lines and go ahead and tell anybody that’s non-essential needs to back up. We’ve got an active leak,” another first responder said in the audio.
Texas A&M - Galveston canceled classes as a result of the bridge closure. They said only about 30 students were affected as it’s the end of the semester.
Structural engineers from the Texas Department of Transportation in Houston are assessing damage to help determine if the bridge is safe enough to open up any part to traffic.