As the ferry came into view, it was nearly totally capsized. Facebook. Soon after the movie's release, on November 6, 2006, local government officials voted to have 2 memorials constructed, but the issue lost traction after those elected officials were not re-elected the following year. The captain of the ship and the pilot both called for assistance from any vessel in the area, and notified the Coast Guard. The film was released on the 30th anniversary of the disaster and sparked a movement to bring a memorial for the victims and surv Sand Springs, OK. I went home and we found out he was on it, he said. The Luling-Destrehan ferry was one of three routes then operated by the Louisiana Department of Highways, District 2. The crew cast off from the ship and proceeded slowly across the river toward the overturned ferry, with the survivors standing on the hull. The windows were up, but he was too afraid to open the door although he somehow kicked out the windshield and it shot him out of the truck. At this point, the pilot began continuous radio calls and horn blasts. When I was out in the river, I couldnt see anything, he said. The George Prince was 120 feet (37m) in length and 34 feet (10m) in breadth, with a gross weight of 259 tons, and powered by a 670-horsepower (500kW) diesel engine. Known as the Luling ferry disaster, the Mississippi River collision between the ferry. Ninety-six passengers and crew were aboard the ferry when it was struck, and seventy-eight perished. Douglas Ford, deckhand, Boutte, Louisiana Aboard the Ollie K. Wilds, the crew in the pilot house did not see the collision. Fourteen of the survivors were thrown clear and surfaced without difficulty. I started swallowing the water. Auletta's judgement and reaction were certainly impaired by the 0.09%. The A maritime disaster can result in one or more of the following simultaneously; There are countless Justin Horn Memorial & Maia Horn Education Fund. NEW ORLEANS, La. Only the Edgard-Reserve ferry operates today. Milwaukee, WI. It was placed there in 1979 after St. . Keysla Perrilloux, The River Region Drama Guild sold out both showings of its winter young actors workshop this past weekend its first official show since Hurricane Ida destroyed the organizations building and contents. Frantic horn blasts and radio calls from the tanker failed to alert the ferrys pilot to the impending danger. The collision occurred at mile post 120.8 above Head of Passes, less than three-quarters of a . Some of my research was done while vacationing in Alaska during the summer of 2005, and in Homer Spit, my family camped on the beach very close to the Seafarers Memorial, which is a remembrance to those lost at sea. The memorial would also serve as a cherished reminder of the lives that were lost that day. A: The short answer is no. Known as the Luling ferry disaster, the Mississippi River collision between the ferry George. Anita Poole Stadler, St. Rose, Louisiana (originally from Olla, Louisiana) One body was found in the river on May 22, 1977. The Frosta was 664 feet (202m) in length, 90 feet (27m) in breadth, with a gross weight of 22,850 tons, and powered by a steam turbine engine, rated at 16,800hp (12.5MW). John Basso, Independence, Louisiana On Oct. 20, 1976, the Luling-Destrehan ferry was rammed in the fog by the Norwegian tanker Frosta, and sank, drowning eight 78 people. LULING, La. During peak hours, the ferries did not operate on a fixed schedule. The accident occurred about 120 miles above Head of Passes, the rivers mouth in the Gulf of Mexico, soon after it departed from Destrehan on its way to Luling. As the news of the collision spread, families and loved ones began to gather on the levee to await news. When the ship was about a mile below the Luling-Destrehan ferry crossing, the pilot saw a ferry cross from the West Bank to the East Bank of the river. This was the MV Ollie K. Wilds, which worked the route along with the George Prince. Nelson Eugene Sr., deckhand, St. Rose, Louisiana where the victims died of asphyxiation before they could reach the opening. Photo is dated 10-22-1976. Posted on June 7, 2022 by I often think of the victims families I was so fortunate to befriend, in particular Kenneth and Iris Songy and Dolores and Tommy Pritchett. Dr Allison Mathis Fort Worth, The George Prince Ferry accident lost 77 people that day and. People v. Mendez. Adamma stands with Royd Anderson, creator of the Luling Ferry Disaster Documentary. Kelly Turner, Nancy Acosta, Rebecca Simoneaux: family of Leroy Acosta, survivor of accident Click here for a map to find the location nearest you. In doing research on the accident, I discovered that there was no marker in St. Charles Parish in memoriam of the victims, Anderson said. October 27, 2016 Anna Thibodeaux News, Tragedy 78 perished when tanker, ferry collided Kenneth Songy was driving to work when he heard news of the SS Frosta colliding with Jesse Duplantis, a televangelist in Louisiana, is drawing criticism for his ministry's response to Hurricane Ida. Not long after the ferry began its trek from Destrehan toward Luling, it collided head on with the tanker, which was traveling upriver. John Goldston Jr., Baton Rouge, Louisiana At the time of the horn signal, the ferry had already turned to port, beginning to cross the river, and was less than a quarter-mile away. Archbishop Philip Hannan passed away last week at the age of 98, but his legacy will live on in Get all the New Orleans news you need. Includes interviews with a survivor, family of victims, attorneys involved in the legal action, and Archbishop Hannan of New Orleans I had to swim back a block or so and climbed back on top the ferry and I threw up. The Commandant states, This page was last edited on 8 February 2023, at 02:06. The pedestrian free ferry on the Mississippi River. With the latest New Orleans weather, sports and stories from around the state, WDSU is your news leader. 1 Subject Index 2nd Extraordinary Session, 2001 Thirtieth Extraordinary Session Under the Adoption of the Constitution of 1974 Prepared by the David R. Poynter Legislative Research Library The disaster was all but officially forgotten until 2006, when historian and filmmaker Royd Anderson wrote and directed the documentary The collision flipped and sank the ferry, killing 77 people aboard. The documentary, from Royd Anderson, comes during the 30th anniversary of the crash. The following are locations accepting blood donations to help with the tragic violence at Fort Hood: 1. The ferry was crossing from Destrehan, Louisiana on the East Bank to Luling, Louisiana on the West Bank. Ferry Captain Egidio "Gene" Auletta and his four-person crew were among the 77 people who died in what has been called one of the nation's worst ferry disasters. The LulingDestrehan Ferry was a ferry across the Mississippi River in the U.S. state of Louisiana, connecting Luling and Destrehan. From an old VHS tape in my collection. The ferry operated with two boats, the Ollie K. Wilds and the George Prince. st philips church london. He also ordered the Frosta full astern. According to the St. Charles Parish website, the George Prince was crossing the. luling ferry disaster victims. []. Otis Gehegan, Hammond, Louisiana Defra Pet Travel Certificate, The panel concluded that Colombo navigated the SS Frosta in a negligent manner. I pull my Mahindra 2615 in my garage bay under my house quite often & each time I have to fold down the ROPS. All the vehicles were thrown off of the deck except for a motorcycle, which was entangled in the railing. [3][4] It is also the deadliest peacetime nautical disaster involving a non-submersible vessel in U.S. waters since the explosion of the SS Grandcamp in 1947, which killed 581 people. The disaster was all but officially forgotten until 2006, when historian and filmmaker Royd Anderson wrote and directed the documentary The Luling Ferry Disaster for his Master's thesis project in Communication at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. An inspirational, peaceful, listening experience. (Photos courtesy of the St. Charles Herald, Patrick Yoes, and Chip Zeringue). Fifty-seven bodies, and a portion of another, were found in submerged vehicles, as they were recovered from the river bottom between October 23 and October 27, 1976. He loved hunting and fishing. In this circumstance, the ability of the eyes to adjust to darkness, to detect moving targets at low levels of illumination, and mental attentiveness are all affected. Henry Hills Jr., Hammond, Louisiana Kenneth Songy was driving to work when he heard news of the SS Frosta colliding with the George Prince ferry in Luling, but wasnt concerned because he thought his son had crossed the Mississippi River earlier. Historic Images Part Number: non00134. Luling Ferry Disaster Screening and Discussion East Regional Library Thursday, October 20 at 6:30 pm In observance of the 40th anniversary of the worst ferryboat accident in United States Ferry pilot Egidio "Gene" Auletta, whose half-empty bottle of whiskey was later found in the pilot house, gunned the ferry's engines into the current. Ferry Accident - 1976. [9] The force of the collision drove the stem of the Frosta 8 feet (2.4m) into the side, impaling the George Prince on the port side and pushing her sideways up the river. Lindsey LeBlanc, Norco, Louisiana It was Oct. 20, 1976 at 6 a.m. when Frosta, a 22,000-ton Norwegian tanker, and the 50-year-old ferry collided head-on, leading to the death of 78 aboard the George Prince. Ervin Gehegan, Hammond, Louisiana Ninety-six passengers and crew were aboard the ferry when it was struck, and seventy-eight perished." Had he announced his departure with the proper signal, and signaled his intent to cross in front of the. The accident occurred just before dawn in good visibility; the ferry operator failed to see the upbound vessels, though they were seen by the passengers on the deck; and the ferry operator failed to make good use of his radios to check for river traffic. It was a free ferry and was not carrying passengers "for hire", so the Coast Guard complied with the request. The The MV George Prince ferry disaster was a nautical disaster that occurred in the Mississippi River in St. Charles Parish, Louisiana, United States, on the morning of October 20, 1976. Staring at the memorial, I envisioned and dreamed of one in St. Charles Parish for the Luling Ferry Disaster victims. For this father, its been the bright moments about his son, one of seven children, that rises above the sadness of the loss. All Austin Area Seton Medical Centers. 0. One of them was Charles Chatalain, who was living in River Ridge and used the ferry to get to work at Texaco in Paradis in the morning for 12 years. The ferry was crossing from Destrehan, Louisiana on the East Bank to Luling, Louisiana on the West Bank. The Official fund me: Glenn family. A video documentary completed by a graduate of the Master's program in Communication at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette has been accepted into one of the The ferry was crossing from Destrehan, Louisiana on the East Bank to Luling, Louisiana on the West Bank. Overnight, the ferry was turned over by the salvage crew. The MV George Prince ferry disaster was a nautical disaster that occurred in the Mississippi River in St. Charles Parish, Louisiana, United States, on the morning of October 20, 1976. [1] The LulingDestrehan Ferry George Prince was struck by the Norwegian tanker SSFrosta, which was traveling upriver. Luling Ferry Disaster The Luling-Destrehan Ferry The George Prince proceeded across the river, never changing course nor acknowledging radio traffic. Lonie Marts, Kenner, Louisiana The radio was turned on, and tuned to channel 13, the same channel used by the river pilot. [2] This accident is the deadliest ferry disaster in United States history. The blood alcohol level was determined to be 0.09%, just shy of the legal definition of alcohol intoxication (in 1976) of 0.10%. Commuters who routinely boarded the boat on their way to work were sent into watery depths. He was traveling on the west side of the channel; this gave him no choice but to turn the ship to the starboard, which, had the ferry turned, would have meant that the ship turned toward the ferry. A maritime disaster can result in one or more of the following simultaneously; There are countless The film was released on the 30th anniversary of the disaster and sparked a movement to bring a memorial for the victims and surv (Source: Luling ferry disaster victims * University Medical Center Brackenridge. One was found in a bathroom doorway, and another was found in a storeroom. Charles Naquin, St. Rose, Louisiana They were on the vessel at 7:34. Maximum velocity was 1.5 miles per hour (2.4km/h), with average velocity of 1.16mph (1.87km/h), and the river was 2 feet (61cm) above sea level. []. This was the scene on Iberville Street as firemen battled a blaze that swept through three bars and three apartments in a single building Sunday night June 24, 1973, killing 32 people.. Ferry pilot Egidio "Gene" Auletta, whose half-empty bottle of whiskey was later found in the pilot house, gunned the ferry's engines into the current. Winds were from the north-northeast at 13 knots (24km/h), with gusts to 20 knots (37km/h). The screening will be held Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at East Regional Library, 160 W. Campus Drive in Destrehan. This is a news clip from t. Many of the 78 victims were construction and plant workers who drove their cars onto the Luling-Destrehan ferry the morning of Oct. 20, 1976, headed to their shifts at the plants up and down the river. top mum influencers australia LIVE This text is copyright material by Marilyn Richoux, Joan Becnel and Suzanne Friloux, from St. Charles Parish, Louisiana: A Pictorial History, 2010. Harry Clement, Tickfaw, Louisiana Documentary Is Catalyst For Long-awaited Memorial. luling ferry disaster victims. [], Russell and Dianna Lauve of Luling will serve as king and queen of the Krewe of Luls 46th parade. Hello world! Al Fleming, Garyville, Louisiana The divers were airborne at 7:14, and arrived at 7:25. By the end, 95 balloons were drifting slowly over the Mississippi River near the spot where the accident occurred. We went to spend the time with his wife and three-month-old son until they started bringing the bodies up from the ferry, he said. [1][2] The ferry was one of three routes then operated by the Louisiana Department of Highways, District 2. The LulingDestrehan Ferry was one of three routes then operated by the Louisiana Department of Highways, District 2. Johnny Williams Jr., St. Rose, Louisiana May 2, 2014 - The full documentary can be purchased through email (rcand@mygrad.loyno.edu) or at New Orleans area Borders and Barnes and Noble. The Great International Disaster Book (Third Edition). 1. She was equipped with two radar units (although only one was turned on at the time of the accident). document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 1999 - 2022 St. Charles Herald-Guide, Copyright 1999 - 2023 St. Charles Herald-Guide, River Region Drama Guild back in action after Hurricane Ida, Two men arrested in Taft after reportedly flying drone over three chemical companies, Russell and Dianna Lauve reign as king and queen of the Krewe of Lul. Being commercial divers, they were equipped with air line masks instead of tanks, and were much less restricted in their movements. Most of the people who died were trapped under the overturned hull or in their vehicles, and could not find a clear path to the surface. The ship maneuvered through the construction area and anchored midstream over a mile upriver, carried most of this way by forward momentum. Michael Webre, Metairie, Louisiana But the memory of its time on the river and disaster lives on in filmmaker Royd Andersons documentary that features Kenneth and Iris Songy among the victims family members, as well as survivors.