OPERATOR OF VESSEL # 1 AND PASSENGER WERE HEADED DOWN RIVER JUST UP STREAM FROM ALABAMA POWER GORGAS PLANT. OPERATOR STATED THAT WHILE HE WAS DRIVING BY THE POWER PLANT HE LOOKED UP AND SAW SOME VULTURES FLYING IN THE THERMALS COMING OFF OF THE STACKS.  HE TOLD THE PASSENGER TO LOOK AT THEM AND THEN THE OPERATOR LOOKED UP AGAIN.  WHEN THE OPERATOR OF VESSEL # 1 LOOKED BACK DOWN HE WAS 15-20 YARDS FROM THE BARGE AND HE PULLED BACK ON THE GAS.  THE OPERATOR STATED THAT THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH ROOM TO STOP OR TURN BEFORE HITTING IT.  THERE WERE 4 STACKED BARGES TIED TOGETHER. OPERATOR OF VESSEL # 1 HIT THE 3RD BARGE FROM BANK WHICH WAS PTC 496. 2 WITNESSES ARRIVED ONSCENE AND DECIDED TO TOW VESSEL # 1 ACROSS THE RIVER AND CALLED 911 FOR HELP.  THE OPERATOR AND PASSENGER OF VESSEL # 1 WERE INJURED AND TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL.
GORGAS                        