Helicopter Crashes Into Barge Near Alton, 2 Dead

Two people were killed Thursday morning when a helicopter contracted for maintenance on Ameren power lines crashed into those lines and then onto a barge on the Mississippi River near Alton, Missouri. The crash occurred around 11 a.m., resulting in a fire and a plume of black smoke, but no one was on the barge and there were no additional injuries. The incident led to the temporary closure of the Lewis and Clark Bridge and the suspension of commercial river traffic as multiple agencies responded. The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board have launched investigations into the cause. Ameren has expressed condolences and is cooperating with authorities. Localized power outages were reported following the crash.