THE OPERATOR OF A RENTED HOUSEBOAT THOUGHT HE WAS ON THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER MAIN CHANNEL WHEN HE APPROACHED A SOO LINE RAILROAD BRIDGE. THE OPERATOR HAD CHECKED WITH SOO LINE OFFICIALS ABOUT HEIGHT CLEARANCE FOR THE HOUSEBOAT PASSING SAFELY UNDER THE SOO LINE RAILROAD BRIDGE. HE WAS INFORMED THERE WAS SUFFICIENT CLEARANCE SINCE THE SOO LINE OFFICIALS THOUGHT THE OPERATOR'S INQUIRY WAS ABOUT THE BRIDGE OVER THE MAIN CHANNEL. BUT THE BOAT WAS ON THE BLACK RIVER. WHEN THE OPERATOR DROVE THE HOUSEBOAT UNDER THE SOO LINE RAILROAD BRIDGE ON THE BLACK RIVER. THE UPPER DECK COLLIDED WITH THE UNDERSIDE OF THE BRIDGE CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE. THE BOAT CONTINUED TO PASS UNDER THE BRIDGE, THEN THE OPERATOR TIED THE BOAT UPSTREAM OF THE BRIDGE & CALLED THE RENTAL BUSINESS WHO THEN DISPATCHED AN EMPLOYEE TO THE SITE. THE EMPLOYEE DROVE THE DAMAGED HOUSEBOAT BACK TO THE SOUTH BAY MARINA.
LACROSSE                      