RedactedNarrative: USCG entered report:  Received notification of two persons who were recovered deceased from blunt force trauma with object after veering in front of a commercial vessel towing barges.  The recreational vessel initially struck the towing vessel on the forward port barge and became wedged on the towing vessel’s starboard barge.  After the vessels were separated, the recreational vessel began to take on water.
  
  Alcohol was involved on the recreational vessel; the operator had a .178 BAC and the occupant a .158.
  
  Excessive speed on the part of the recreational vessel was also at fault.  Video images capture the vessel traveling at a greater speed than wake in an area with a no wake speed during sunset to sunrise.
  
  Operator of towing vessel (Vessel1) had over 30 years experience as a Master.  He had been on this particular towing vessel for two months.  
  
  The towing vessel had operational navigation lights.  Recreational boaters have frequently complained about the difficulty distinguishing barge lights from background shore lights.