Early-morning oil spill closes 5 miles of the Mississippi near LaPlace

The U.S. Coast Guard says an oil tanker barge collided with another barge on the Mississippi River around 2 a.m. today, spilling oil and leading officials to close a five-mile stretch of the river. Officials say the collision happened about 50 miles upriver from New Orleans, near LaPlace. The wreck tore a gash into the double-hulled tank of the tanker barge, which was being pushed by a tugboat. Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer John Edwards says neither vessel sank and no one was hurt. He says the leak has been contained, and the Coast Guard is now trying to determine how much oil spilled. A cleanup company has been hired to deal with the spill. The Coast Guard says the tugboat immediately laid down 100 feet of containment boom and another 30,000 feet was available if needed. St. Charles Parish shut down both of its water intakes from the river, saying it has an adequate supply of clean drinking water. The parish says the accident posed no threat to the public.