Bridge Collapse Results in Lawsuit for Foss Maritime

Foss Maritime is being sued for nearly $8 million over one of their cargo ships that hit a bridge over the Tennessee River, causing the span to collapse.

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has filed the largest claim in the case, totaling to just over $7 million. BellSouth Telecommunications is seeking $59,000 in damages, while a restaurant near the incident site is asking for $33,000 for lost income due to the bridge’s repair time.

The M/V Delta Mariner struck the Eggner's Ferry Bridge near Aurora a year ago. Foss has asked a federal judge to rule it was not responsible for causing the collapse because some of the bridge's lights were not working. Kentucky Transportation Cabinet officials acknowledged that some bridge lights were out, but said the Coast Guard issued a series of warnings to mariners about the bridge before the wreck, reports the Houston Chronicle.

Foss moved last month to stop any further claims from being filed.

Kentucky officials state they are only seeking the amount of money that covers the emergency contract the state granted to repair the 80-year-old bridge shortly after it collapsed. They also argued that the ship's operators disregarded repeated warnings about the bridge, including one just before the collapse from a nearby vessel.