Prior to Illinois Conservation Police being notified, Alton Fire Department, St. Louis Fire Department, Missouri Water Patrol, and US Coast Guard personnel were on scene.  Several persons from the previous listed departments entered vessel #1 which may have altered the condition of the vessel prior to IL Conservation Police officer''s arrival.

Accident is under investigation.  From initial reports, it appears vessel #1 (recreational vessel)was anchored in the river and fishing.  A video shows 1 (one) person on board fishing for catfish.  Vessel #2 (commercial vessel)was moving downstream at approximately 6 miles per hour.At approximately 2:15 AM, another tug, the Jody McMinn, contacted vessel #2 to advise he had a recreational boat lodged in the front of his barges.  Deck crew from vessel #2 immediately went to the front of the barges and confirmed the presence of an unoccupied recreational boat, vessel #1.  The pilot of vessel #2 continued  until he reached the slower water inthe Chain of Rocks Canal.  Once in the slower water, deck crew secured lines to vessel #1.  Vessel #2 backed off the throttle to dislodge vessel #1 from the front of the barges.  Once seperated, vessel #1 was pulled along side vessel #2 and secured.  Vessel #2 immediately contacted the US Coast Guard to report the incident.  Alton Fire, St. Louis Fire, Missouri Water Patrol, and US Coast Guard initially responded to the incident.  Alton Fire Department located a driver''s license and personal effects belonging to the owner of the vessel.  A friend of the owner of vessel #1 stated that the owner had been fishing through the night and was last heard from around 1:00 AM.  Other family and friends had tried to contact the owner throughout the day with no luck.  From the video obtained and the friend''s and families account, it is assumed at this point that the owner of the vessel was the only person on board, and he is currently listed as missing.

US Coast Guard is handling the investigation into the commercial side of the incident.

On 8/10/13 at approximately 1:10 PM, the body was discovered by CPO and Sgt..  The body was found floating in the Mississippi River a few hundred yards north of Chouteau Island.

The Madison County Coroner listed drowning as cause of death.  Toxicology results showed a ethanol concentration of 0.028 gm% (28 mg / dL).  The coroner investigator reported to me that the small amount of ethanol present was likely due to decomposition.
Hartford