Exclusive video: Barge breaks loose, crashes into docks in North Jacksonville

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A barge broke free in the St. Johns River near Blount Island on Wednesday afternoon, according to the U.S. Coast Guard Southeast.

The Coast Guard reports no injuries as it continues to investigate just how the barge broke loose.

Sterling Lawrence works as a landscaper for some of the homes of Heckscher Drive.; he was out working when he saw the crash as it happened.

“I just noticed a big barge coming in and that it wasn’t being manned, nobody there, no engine power,” Lawrence said.

Lawrence captured video as the crash happened.

“I mean it’s like a two-story, tall ship and you know it’s not a small boat, you definitely notice something like that coming at you.”

The Coast Guard says it sent out a crew around 12:30 p.m. Wednesday afternoon.

Mayport crew members were on scene until a towing company used a tugboat to move the barge to Sisters Creek Marina.

The Coast Guard says it’s opened an investigation into just what happened and how the barge lost control.

Petty Officer Vincent Moreno says it’s not common that barges break loose, but that it does happen from time to time.

“Definitely underestimated the strength that it drug these docks away with,” Lawrence said.

Action News Jax is reaching out to local agencies to learn who owns the barge.

Cox Media Group