Skip to: Content
Skip to: Site Navigation
Skip to: Search

August 29, 2008 7:49:52 PM CDT

Learn about Newser Points »

« Back to the grid | Next story »

SF Ship Pilot May Have Had Sleep Disorder

Posted Jan 20, 08 6:46 PM CST in US 

(Newser) – The ship pilot who hit a San Francisco bridge and unleashed the bay's worst oil spill in nearly 20 years may have been on drugs for a sleep disorder, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. Captain John Cota was reportedly taking two kinds of prescription medication to prevent drowsiness and treat anxiety. Feds are now probing whether a Coast Guard licensing plan should have prevented his hiring.

A 25-year veteran, Cota had disclosed his sleep apnea and prescription drug use to the Coast Guard, but the American Pilots Association chief said the process can be mysterious: “You send all your information to the Coast Guard, and it kind of goes behind closed doors.” Cota is one of 18 million Americans suffer from sleep apnea, the AP notes.

Sources San Francisco Chronicle, Associated Press

0 comments | Print E-mail | Digg Seed this on Newsvine Add this link to Del.icio.us StumbleUpon
Birds fly over Crissy Field East Beach, which is closed for oil clean up in San Francisco, on Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2007. The cargo ship Cosco Busan struck one of four supports beneath the San Francisco-Oakland...   (Associated Press)
A view of the gash, approximately 90-feet long, in the hull of the container ship Cosco Busan in Oakland, California. The vessel struck the Bay Bridge, spilling about 58,000 gallons of oil into the San...   (Associated Press)
The cargo ship that struck the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge and caused a 58,000-gallon oil spill is shown in the San Francisco bay, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2007. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)   (Associated Press)
An approximately 90-foot long gash stretches along the hull of the Cosco Busan as cargo is unloaded in Oakland, Calif., on Saturday, Nov. 10, 2007. Navigating in heavy fog, the vessel struck the Bay Bridge...   (Associated Press)
An approximately 90-foot long gash stretches along the hull of the Cosco Busan as cargo is unloaded in Oakland, Calif., on Saturday, Nov. 10, 2007. The vessel struck the Bay Bridge, seen at left, on Nov....   (Associated Press)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
Our editors also recommend:

Threads (1 of 1)

Tags

Congress  • oil spill  • Coast Guard  • sleep disorder  • sleep apnea  • San Francisco Oakland Bay Bridge


Loading...

Premium Articles from HighBeam

Find more articles like this

Today's Most Popular


Other US Stories

What is Newser?

2008 Codie Finalist

Newser gives you more news in less time. We search for the best and most important stories all over the web, read them for you, and deliver concise and sharp summaries—along with links to the full text. Newser provides a way to stay on top of an ever-expanding horizon of news and opinion—politics, sports, business, trends, technology, personalities, crimes, and controversies. Newser keeps you not just better informed, but, with our signature graphic interface and smart condensed format, more enjoyably informed.

Learn more »