Tragedy struck on the Tennessee River in Colbert County, Alabama, when two experienced fishermen were found dead following a collision between a fishing boat and a commercial towing vessel. On Saturday, August 16, 2025, the two men were fishing on Pickwick Lake, a reservoir along the Tennessee River in northwestern Alabama. A bystander witnessed the collision and alerted emergency services that Saturday night, prompting a search that would last two days. Collisions involving commercial towing vessels can raise complex maritime liability issues, and a St. Louis, MO towboat injury lawyer can help injured parties and their families evaluate potential claims arising from serious accidents on navigable waterways.
Edison “Kim” Wallace, 66, was found early Sunday morning. The search continued until Monday, when Wallace’s fishing partner and lifelong friend, William Michael Sandlin, 63, was found. The search involved state marine and aviation police, fire personnel using sonar technology, and the United States Coast Guard.
The commercial towing vessel involved in the collision, 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. The vessel struck the fishermen’s boat with its lead barge at approximately 9:15 p.m. on Saturday night.
On August 19, 2025, Magnolia Marine Transport Company filed a Limitation of Liability action in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama. The Limitation of Liability Act is a federal law that consolidates all lawsuits arising out of a maritime accident into a single federal court proceeding and may allow the vessel owner to cap or entirely avoid the damages owed to the victims’ families.
According to family members who have spoken to news outlets, Sandlin and Wallace had been best friends for over fifty years. The United States Coast Guard is leading the investigation into the collision due to the involvement of the commercial vessel STAN HUMPHREY. As of the time of publication, the Coast Guard has not released any information regarding the cause of the collision.
Goldstein and Price, L.C. represents individuals and families affected by serious maritime accidents and helps clients navigate the complex federal laws that often arise when commercial vessels are involved in fatal waterway collisions.