Coast Guard Recommends Fines Over I-40 Bridge Collapse

The U S Coast Guard is recommending 25-thousand dollars in fines against the owner and the Captain of the Towboat that crashed into the Interstate 40 bridge causing it to collapse. The Coast Guard recommends a 20-thousand dollar fine for Magnolia Marine for allowing Captain Joe Dedmon to work more than 12 hours in one day without proper rest.The report also calls for a five-thousand dollar fine against Dedmon for working without proper rest. Dedmon was at the controls of the boat when he passed out and the boat crashed into the bridge in May 2002. Fourteen people died as their vehicles plunged into the Arkansas River.