Residents of Pelican Island, including Texas A&M Galveston students, were forced to evacuate the island after a barge carrying fuel drifted away from its tugboat and crashed into a bridge near Galveston, Texas. The incident occurred on Wednesday morning, resulting in the partial collapse of the Pelican Island Causeway span and cutting off the only road access to the small island.

Video footage showed oil spills in Galveston Bay following the crash, originating from the barge owned by Martin Petroleum. The exact size of the leak, which occurred during the collision, remains unclear, but the vessel had the capacity to transport up to 30,000 gallons of fuel.

In response to the incident, the U.S. Coast Guard swiftly deployed a boom, a floating barrier, to contain the source of the oil spill. The Coast Guard has also been utilizing drones and personnel to assess the extent of the oil contamination in the water. As a result of the spill, approximately 6.5 miles (10.5 kilometers) of the waterway have been closed.

According to the Coast Guard, the barge lost control as a result of a break in the coupling that connected it to the tugboat. Currently, the barge remains stationary beside the damaged bridge, obstructed by debris including rail lines that fell upon it during the crash.

While the bridge leading to Pelican Island remains closed to incoming traffic, vehicles leaving the island and pedestrians in both directions are not affected by the closure. Efforts are underway to assess the damage caused by the crash and determine the timeline for repairs. In the meantime, residents and students who evacuated the island are awaiting updates on when the bridge will be reopened to restore access.

The incident serves as a reminder of the potential environmental impact of maritime accidents and highlights the importance of swift response measures to contain and mitigate oil spills.