On December 14, 2015, at 1122, the uninspected towing vessel Margaret Ann was downbound on the Mississippi River pushing 3 tank barges loaded with liquid asphalt when its tow collided with the uninspected towing vessel William E Strait, which was pushing a flotilla of 30 loaded gravel barges. The William E Strait partially sank on the left descending bank of the river. There were no reported injuries associated with this collision.

​​The probable cause of the collision between the Margaret Ann and the William E Strait was the William E Strait pilot’s inability to hold his vessel in position along the left descending bank, as had been agreed on, to allow the safe and unimpeded passage of the Margaret Ann​​.