04/21/2009

Associated Press

A tugboat's crew is being credited with helping save three people who were left dangling by their harnesses from a Mississippi River bridge after a rented crane's hydraulic arm collapsed.

The two men and a woman were rescued Monday morning from below the Memorial Bridge at Quincy by the tugboat Sir-Ene from Canton Marine and Towing Co.

The victims spent about 20 minutes suspended from the span they were inspecting. The tugboat managed to maneuver underneath them and lowered them onto its deck.

None of workers were seriously hurt.

The 81-year-old, two-lane bridge carries eastbound U.S. 24 from Missouri to Illinois.

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Information from: The Quincy Herald-Whig, http://www.whig.com