LAPUSH — The Coast Guard rescued the crew of a dredge taking on water on the Quillayute River near LaPush. The barge with the dredge later overturned and sank.
Coast Guard Station Quillayute River personnel gave this account:
Two rescue boats, 47-feet and 25-feet, responded to a report of the barge hung up on its anchor and taking on water with three people aboard at about 8:50 p.m. Monday.
At about 9:30 p.m. the 25-boat crew took all three people off of the barge without injury and took them to the Coast Guard station.
The 47-foot boat crew was able to get the barge out of the river channel.
At about 8 a.m today, the barge carrying the dredge was reported to have overturned and sunk in approximately 10 feet of water in the river.
The Coast Guard says a boom has been placed around the barge, and its owner has hired a company to contain any pollution.
