​​On January 26, 2020, the towing vessel Cooperative Spirit was pushing 40 barges upbound on the Lower Mississippi River, and the towing vessel RC Creppel was pushing two barges downbound when the two tows collided at mile 123, near Destrehan, Louisiana. The RC Creppel capsized as a result of the collision. Minutes later, the upbound dry bulk carrier Glory First made contact with the starboard side of the Cooperative Spirit’s tow. All 42 barges from both tows broke free and were later recovered. One of the four RC Creppel crewmembers was rescued; the remaining three were never recovered and are presumed dead. The accident resulted in the release of about 8,000 gallons of diesel fuel into the river and sulfuric acid vapors into the atmosphere, and an estimated $3,781,126 in property damage to the 3 vessels and 11 barges.

​​the probable cause of the collision of the Cooperative Spirit and RC Creppel tows was the two pilots’ insufficient radio communication before meeting in a bend and not broadcasting accurate AIS information regarding tow size.​