50-foot barge sinks in Lake St. Clair; 3 rescued

Chesterfield Township — Officials say a 50-foot barge being pushed to a seawall repair job sunk in Lake St. Clair about a half-mile from the mouth of the Clinton River.

Macomb County sheriff’s Lt. John Michalke says the barge went down Tuesday while being pushed against the wind in rough waters. The Macomb Daily reports the barge, which had a crane, became unstable, began to list and sank.

Michalke says the barge was being pushed by a 25-foot boat and it was heading from Harsens Island to a job in Chesterfield Township.

The newspaper says three people were rescued, including a woman and child.

Michigan Marine Salvage was called to the scene and put a boom around the site, but no oil or fuel was released from the barge.