Ferry sinking kills 75
NZPA-Reuter Luling, Louisiana
At least 75 people are believed to have been killed when a packed car-ferry and the 22,850-tonne Norwegian tanker, Frosta, were in collision in the Mississippi River near Luling, 30 miles west of New Orleans. Search teams have recovered 25 bodies from the ferry George Prince, which capsized on impact and sent about 40 cars and trucks aboard plunging into fastflowing water 200 feet deep. Many of the victims were sitting inside their vehicles, and had no chance to escape. Eighteen survivors were
rescued from the water and taken to hospital for treatment. One told reporters later: “I went under the water in my truck. I was holding my breath, then the next thing I knew was that the windscreen broke and I was coming up to the surface.”
No injuries or damage were reported aboard the tanker.
The accident was one of the worst of its kind in the history of Mississippi River navigation, the authorities say.
The tanker was on her way upstream to Baton Rouge to pick up cargo, and the ferry was crossing between Destrehan and Luling, when the collision occurred.
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Press, 22 October 1976, Page 1
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192Ferry sinking kills 75 Press, 22 October 1976, Page 1
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