U.S. Coast Guard issues findings in Admiral casino accident

The investigator's report, dated June 23, was made public Wednesday. It states the pilot of the towboat Anne Holly failed to "properly account for the prevailing currents" in the Mississippi River as the towboat pushed a 14-barge tow underneath the Eads Bridge.

The tow, pushed by the currents, hit a bridge pier, breaking it apart. Three of the barges hit the Admiral, a casino boat moored along the downtown St. Louis riverfront.

All of the about 2,300 people aboard the Admiral were rescued, as the Anne Holly's pilot, John O. Johnson, held the boat in place. About 70 were injured

The report states Johnson's actions were "commendable, and likely played a large role in minimizing injury, of loss of life and further damage to property."

Johnson pleaded no contest in September 1998 to a Coast Guard charge of negligence. His license was suspended for two months.

The report states no evidence was found to suggest that alcohol or drugs contributed to the accident, and there was no "actionable misconduct, inattention to duty or willful violation of the law."

The report also clears the Coast Guard of any wrongdoing.

It makes a series of recommendations aimed at avoiding a similar accident in the future.

The moorings of the floating casino, "in particular the issue of installing protective mooring cells ... should be reconsidered."

A protective mooring cell would be a large, pier-like obstacle in the water protecting the vessel.

Coast Guard investigators also recommended that during times of high water, tows and barges should be allowed to travel northbound only during the day.

The accident happened in the evening when the river was slightly over flood stage.

The report comes as testimony in a lawsuit over the accident is ending before a recess for the summer. Senior U.S. District Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh has been asked to fix blame for the accident.

A lawyer for the President Casino has said the case "rises and falls" on what Johnson did.

Winterville Marine Services, which operated the Anne Holly and employed the crew, claims the President Casino bears the blame for not better protecting its vessel.

Lawyers for both parties declined to comment Wednesday on the Coast Guard report.

Testimony in the case ends Friday and won't resume until September.

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