On February 27, 2019, about 0704 local time, the towing vessel Chad Pregracke, pushing 30 loaded grain barges down the Mississippi River, was coming out of a bend and lining up to pass under two adjacent bridges in Vicksburg, Mississippi, when the tow set toward the left descending bank and into a pier supporting the Old Highway 80 Bridge. The tow broke apart, one barge sank, and three barges were damaged. The vessel's nine crewmembers remained on board and began gathering barges. No pollution or injuries were reported. Total damage to the barges was estimated at $800,000.

​​The probable cause of the contact of the downbound Chad Pregracke​​ tow with pier 3 of the Old Highway 80 Bridge was the pilot’s misjudgment of the effects of the river current acting on the tow while navigating the bend before the bridge at Vicksburg in high-water conditions.