Monongahela River boat-barge collision results in multiple fatalities

A multi-day search and recovery operation has concluded following a collision between a pleasure craft and a barge on the Monongahela River near Rices Landing in Greene County. The accident occurred shortly before 9 p.m. on a Sunday night.

The collision involved a boat carrying five people. Two occupants were rescued from the water by the pilot of the tugboat operating the barge. One woman later died at Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown, West Virginia, and a man was transported to a Pittsburgh-area hospital.

Following an extensive search involving dive teams, sonar, helicopters, and canine units, the bodies of the remaining missing boaters were recovered. A male and female boater were located by divers on Tuesday evening, and the final missing male boater was recovered Wednesday morning after a member of the public reported seeing an object in the river. The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission is investigating the incident in coordination with the U.S. Coast Guard.