RedactedNarrative: The victims were observing a fireworks show on the Indiana banks of the Ohio River.   
  
  A commercial tow was pushing four barges with dry cargo.  The front starboard barge is a bull nose that drafted roughly 5 feet.  The port barge was a slant nose and was slightly higher than the starboard.
  
  A recreational vessel (V2) had just completed a wide left turn to travel south to return to the Greenwood boat ramp.  As V2 transitioned form plowing to plane, it struck v1’s starboard tow which was northbound.  Based on interviews with v2 subjects, it did not appear that Operator2 saw the barge.  According to Operator1, when he noticed V2 was going to cross in front, he sounded the danger signal, took the tow out of gear and into reverse, then sounded the general alarm to begin a rescue operation.  The crew deployed a life ring with strobe and recovered two males.  They launched a rescue boat and recovered 1 unconscious male and two conscious females.  
  
  Operator2 was intoxicated at the time of incident; Operator1 tested negative for alcohol.
   The recreational vessel was last registered in 2012.
  
  The commercial vessel crew confirmed the head barges were lit and had been checked prior to dusk.