2 dead in Ohio River barge collision

CINCINNATI, Sept. 26 (UPI) —

Two people were killed when their boat crashed into a barge on the Ohio River late Thursday.

The victims were off-duty employees of at the FBI office in Cincinnati and were killed when their 19-foot pleasure boat collided with a barge around 11 p.m. between Cincinnati and Newport.

"It is with great sadness that we advise that two FBI employees were involved in a tragic accident late last night that claimed their lives," FBI spokesman Todd Lindgren said in a statement.

The names of the two men, both in their 30s, have not been released.

Cincinnati District Fire Chief Lou Arnold said the FBI employee’s boat crossed "right in front" of the barge, and the barge captain saw the whole thing.

"He was looking right out the front watching what was going on. It was a big barge," Arnold said. "The [smaller boat] just crossed right in front of them and slammed into the barge. We can only assume they didn’t see it."

He said the men were found dead when fire crews arrived, and likely died upon impact.

"I don’t believe there was any suffering," he said.

Arnold said the investigation into the cause of the accident could take months. There was no evidence of alcohol on the boat, and investigators will consider whether both the barge and the smaller boat were properly lit.