(RED WING, Minn.) — A stalled motorboat was struck by a barge Saturday near the Red Wing Marina on the Mississippi River, throwing two people into the water, the Pierce County Herald reported.
The 15-foot motorboat, which was out of gas, stalled at 1:12 p.m. and was drifting when it was hit by a six-barge tow being guided upriver by M/V Bill Stegbauer, according to the Goodhue County Sheriff's Office.
Two of three passengers in the motorboat were thrown into the water. A nearby boater rescued one of the passengers, while the other was submerged under the barge and surfaced on the other side. The operator of the motorboat managed to climb onto the barge, then went into the water to help the passenger floating alongside.
The barge crew reportedly lowered a ladder for the boaters to hold onto until authorities arrived.
"The quick actions from local boaters, barge crew and rescue personnel prevented a tragic outcome," according to the sheriff's office.
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