The houseboat was waiting to lock through Lock & Dam #7 when it lost power to its engine and the boat started to drift toward the lock's Roller Gate #1. The operator was unable to restart the engine, so he went to the life boat (located on the back) and started it in an attempt to pull the house boat away from Roller #1. The life boat did not have enough power to pull the houseboat away and both the life boat and the houseboat went through Roller #1. The houseboat went through sideways, where it became damaged enough to cause the boat to sink. The rollers were completely opened because of the Mississippi's high water. All 9 passengers and 2 crew members were able to get off the houseboat as it sank. All 11 were picked up out of the water by the US Army Corps of Engineers. No one was injured, but seven passengers were taken to a local hospital to be checked for possible injuries.
Dresbach