Page:NTSB Rar-94-01.pdf/19

 passengers that a train would take them back to Mobile

About 4:04 a m, the Coast Guard launched helicopters from the nearest air search and rescue (SAR) unit, which was in New Orleans About 4:25 a m, the Coast Guard's RHI boat arrived and started assisting passengers. The SAR controller testified that the RHI encountered patches of very dense fog while en route to the scene, at times, the crew could not see the bow The pilot of a Coast Guard aircraft that arrived on scene about 5:10 a m said he found visibility clear at 500 to 1,000 feet, he reported communications with Coast Guard boat crews during which the crews mentioned dense fog while traveling upriver. The glow from the fire helped responders locate the accident site

When Coast Guard helicopters arrived on scene about 5:20 a m and started assisting passengers, the fog had dissipated The MAUVILLA transported the survivors it had rescued to a triage area at the Scott Paper Company pier in Chickasaw, after which the towboat proceeded to the Warrior & Gulf Navigation (W&GN) yard and moored Coast Guard, local emergency medical services personnel, and other towboats that responded to the distress call also took survivors to the two triage sites established at the Scott Paper Company in Chickasaw The last survivors were treated and transported to local hospitals or hotels by 8:30 a m.

Injuries

Passengers and Crew

The ticket count on the day after the accident indicated that 189 passengers and 18 employees were on board the Sunset Limited Rescuers recovered 3 unticketed infants, bringing 13