Vandalism has been determined to be the reason a barge broke loose from a dock in Webbers Falls July 13, coming within a half-mile of the Interstate 40 bridge, according to a spokesperson for Consolidated Grain & Barge Co.

The barge was tied off at Consolidated Grain & Barge Company's grain elevator in Webbers Falls when it somehow got loose and began its trip down the river. The unmanned barge, which was loaded with wheat, went adrift and was headed toward the bridge before being intercepted by a tugboat.

Jim Titley, barge company facility manager, said after the company learned that the barge broke loose from their dock, the company followed their standard procedure and notified the U.S. Coast Guard.

Titley said after an investigation, it was determined that vandalism was involved, and the Coast Guard notified the Federal Bureau of Investigation due to Homeland Security requirements.

"At this point in time, we have no reason or evidence or cause to believe this incident is anything other than vandalism, which is unfortunately seen on the river from time to time," Titley said in a press release. "This incident is still under investigation. There were no damages or injuries. Rescue efforts by all concerned were appreciated."

Titley would not comment on what led investigators to believe the incident was caused by vandals.

Webbers Falls Mayor Jewell Horne said Monday the Coast Guard and FBI are still investigating the incident, but she has not yet received a report on their investigation. She said the Webbers Falls police department will be doing some investigation into the incident, but they do not have any jurisdiction on the waterway.

The incident was first brought to police attention when a passerby noticed the unmanned barge. Gore Police Officer Jarrett Cooney said he was pumping gas into his patrol car at a convenience store in Gore between 6:45 and 7:15 a.m. when a man came by and told him that he had seen a barge that looked like it was adrift on the river.

Cooney immediately began calling area officials, including the Oklahoma Highway Patrol (OHP) and the grain company, to notify them of the situation.

Memories of the May 2002 bridge collapse resurfaced as the barge passed under the U.S. Highway 64 bridge, and continued drifting south toward the Interstate 40 bridge.

In the 2002 incident, a barge hit a bridge support and caused a 600-foot section of the bridge span to collapse, sending vehicles into the river and killing 14 travelers.

Carrie Clear, ODOT spokesperson, said the barge did hit one of the pier protection cells on the State Highway 100 bridge. The protection cell, she said, did its job by directing the barge back into the channel.

Gore and Webbers Falls officers, the OHP, ODOT, and deputies from the Sequoyah and Muskogee counties sheriff's offices assisted in trying to slow traffic on Interstate 40 in case the Interstate 40 bridge had to be shut down.