Captain of tugboat found dead in boat on river

Published 12:25 am Monday, November 27, 2017

NATCHEZ — The captain of a towboat was found dead by crewmembers Sunday on the Mississippi River, the U.S. Coast Guard confirmed.

The initial report of a fatality on the vessel was reported at 5:15 p.m. near the Fort Adams community in Wilkinson County, a U.S. Coast Guard representative for the Lower Mississippi River Sector said.

By 8:30 p.m., Wilkinson County Coroner Nolan Thompson was en route to the scene.

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The boat, the representative said, was an uninspected towing vessel and is normally operated by 15 to 18 crewmembers.

The U.S. Coast Guard representative said further details are unavailable because the death is still under investigation.