Tragedy struck on the Tennessee River in Colbert County, Alabama. After hours of searching, two fishermen were found dead following a collision between a fishing boat and a commercial barge being pushed by a towboat. On Saturday, August 16, 2025, the two fishermen were fishing on Pickwick Lake, a reservoir that bisects the Tennessee River in northwestern Alabama. According to news articles, the search for the fishermen began after a bystander witnessed the incident and alerted emergency services on Saturday night. If you are in the horrific situation of needing a Kentucky boating accident lawyer, Katz Law is here to help.
66 year-old Edison “Kim” Wallace was found first, early Sunday morning. The search continued until Monday morning when Wallace’s fishing partner and life-long friend,63 year-old William Michael Sandlin, was found. The search involved state marine and aviation police, fire personnel utilizing sonar technology, and the United States Coast Guard.
The commercial towing vessel, the M/V STAN HUMPHREY, is owned by Magnolia Marine Transport Company. At the time of the collision, the STAN HUMPHREY was pushing three barges in front of it. A collision occurred between the fishermen’s vessel and the barge tow around 9:15 p.m. on Saturday.
Only days later, Magnolia Marine Transport Company filed a Complaint in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama seeking exoneration or limitation of liability. The Limitation of Liability Act is a federal law that permits vessel owners to try to limit their liability arising from a maritime accident. The lawsuit will likely require anyone seeking damages arising from the collision to file a claim with the federal court in the near future.
Interested parties filing a claim should immediately retain a lawyer who regularly handles these unique types of maritime cases. Magnolia Marine’s Complaint asserts that the value of its interest in the vessels was $15,910,000. If you or someone you love has been injured in a maritime or other accident, reach out to Katz Law any time of the day or night, 365 days a year.