Crews suspend search for Mississippi River bridge worker because of fast current

March 28--EAST ST. LOUIS -- Because of a fast current in the Mississippi River, crews halted the search late Wednesday for a worker who fell into the river at the site of the new bridge project in East St. Louis.

The worker, who is not being identified, fell off a manlift that was positioned on a barge located about 100 yards upriver from the construction site, said Greg Horn, project director for the new bridge for the Missouri Department of Transportation.

"He was on a manlift working on a barge when the manlift fell into the water," Horn said. "These barges are loaded with steel, and then big cranes lift the steel off the barges at the bridge site."

A diver went into the river twice to search for the worker but the current pushed him around too much, Horn said.

East St. Louis Police Chief Michael Floore said the man's family has gone home for the day. Floore said the worker is married and has children.

"Our hearts go out to the individual's family and friends,' said Andrew Gates, a spokesman for the Missouri Department of Transportation, which oversees the bridge project.

Floore said the operation is now considered a recovery mission.

The worker fell into water that is 15 to 20 feet deep.

A life jacket was recovered but officials would not confirm if this belonged to the missing worker.

On Thursday, crews plan to install 40 feet of metal sheet piling to divert the current at the site, Floore said.

Alberici Corp. of St. Louis, Massman Construction Co. of Kansas City and Traylor Bros. Inc. of Indiana are the lead contractors for the project and the group hired the diver who searched the murky waters.

Rescue workers in boats had searched the river for the worker.

Trucks and ambulances from fire and EMS departments on both sides of the river were on the scene.

The city of St. Louis Water Rescue team arrived about 1 p.m.

MoDOT is in charge of the operation, even though the incident occurred on the Illinois side of the river.

Construction workers were sent home while the search was under way.

For more on this story, read the News-Democrat Thursday or return to www.bnd.com.

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