A northbound tow struck two piers on the old U.S. 80 bridge early Tuesday morning, scattering barges on the Mississippi River.

The strike occurred about 5 a.m. Tuesday.

Bridge superintendent Herman Smith said the motor vessel Michael G. Morris was northbound between piers 4 and 5 when the river’s current pinned the tow against pier 4, causing the 28-barge tow to break.

Sixteen of the barges broke off and swung around to strike pier 3. Smith said most of the barges in the tow were empty, but did not know what the other barges were carrying.

He said a crew of inspectors was examining piers 3, 4 and 5 for damage, adding, “We know there was a scrape, because we could see the sparks on the video.”