Officials Investigating After Gateway Clipper Hits Trees

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- A private corporate event on the Gateway Clipper's "Three Rivers Queen" got a little rocky Wednesday night when officials say the riverboat was traveling down the Ohio River.

It was 8 p.m. when the captain went to circle around near Brunot Island and clipped a few trees.

Those with the Gateway Clipper say the impact was minimal to the boat and it was able to make it back to the dock on its own power. They say there wasn't a lot of damage to either the tree or the riverboat.

The Three Rivers Queen is slated to be back out on the water Friday night.

The company hasn't said how close the captain was to the island before it hit the trees.

The Marine Safety Unit is currently investigating the incident, but couldn't provide a lot of specific details.

It says there are general navigational rules and safe practices that must be followed by boaters, but nothing specific in terms of how close a boat is allowed to get to land.

Higher than average water levels that night may have contributed to the boat hitting the trees, according to boating experts who say it's not uncommon for the swift waters to shift the direction of the vessel.

Officials with the Gateway Clipper say no was injured in the incident.

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