Baltimore Bridge Collapses After Giant Ship Crash
The Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland, collapsed after a cargo ship struck it.
Chief of the Baltimore City Fire Department James Wallace, in an early morning press conference, shared a vessel struck the bridge at 1:30 a.m..
Several people were on the bridge the moment the bridge collapsed, and officials are still doing search and rescue missions for missing persons.
Wallace later shared, “Our sonar has detected the presence of vehicles submerged in the water.”
Watch the moment the cargo ship struck the bridge:
Here’s what USA Today reported:
The Francis Scott Key Bridge − a major span critical to East Coast shipping − collapsed early Tuesday after it was struck by a large cargo ship, prompting a massive emergency response for at least seven people in the water.
James Wallace, chief of the Baltimore City Fire Department, said at a news conference that around 1:30 a.m. a vessel struck the Key Bridge in Baltimore, causing the collapse. Several vehicles were on the bridge at the time of impact and were plunged into the Patapsco River.
Wallace said two people were rescued from the water. One was unharmed and the other is remains in “very serious condition,” he said. At least seven people were believed to be in the water, though, Wallace noted, it’s unclear whether that number includes the two who were rescued.
The crew that was on the ship when it collided with a bridge occurred remains on the vessel, which needs to be assessed for damage before rescuers can board it, Wallace said.
Multiple local, state and federal agencies are coordinating the massive search, which spans a vast section of the river – both above and below the surface of the water – and the ship itself, Wallace said. Divers, helicopters and sonar technology were being used and had located several vehicles submerged in the river.
A bridge in US city of #Baltimore has entirely collapsed into Patapsco River after being hit by a container ship.
— Dr.Shaun🇵🇸 (@fiftysix56__) March 26, 2024
7 people and several vehicles have fallen into the river, says Baltimore City Fire Department. #FrancisScottKeyBridge pic.twitter.com/yXg9rTxg2K
CNN reported there were construction contractors on teh bridge before it collapsed.
Per CNN:
Maryland State Transportation Secretary Paul Wiedefeld told reporters there were workers on the Francis Scott Key Bridge at the time of its collapse.
“We know there were individuals on the bridge at the time of the collapse, working on the bridge, contractors for us,” he said at a news conference Tuesday morning.
Wiedefeld said the workers were “basically doing some concrete deck repair,” but said they did not know how many vehicles were involved.
He added that the transport authority has set up a facility for family members of those who were believed to be on the bridge at the time of its collapse.
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