What happened
At about 1:20 a.m. on Tuesday, March 25, a 950-foot-long cargo ship, leaving the port of Baltimore, impacted one of the central stanchions supporting the Francis Scott Key Bridge. Video shows the moments leading up to the crash and resulting bridge collapse.
Much of the 1-mile long “Key Bridge” now rests in the Patapsco River entrance to the Chesapeake Bay. This crossing is the singular access into the port of Baltimore, the ninth busiest cargo and cruise port in the United States.
The Baltimore City Fire Department established command and has been leading press conferences throughout the day. The fire chief reports the possibility of at least 20 vehicles on the bridge at the time of the collapse, along with seven workers conducting routine maintenance.
The fire chief reported that rescue divers from multiple agencies are using sonar and infrared technology in the search for survivors. Air assets are also being utilized to search the area.
State and federal law enforcement officials have advised that there is no indication of anything nefarious at this point; however, a full investigation is already underway. In the full video, the ship appears to lose all power multiple times before striking the bridge.
Why it’s important
The Key Bridge – carrying I-695 traffic – is a critical connection point in Baltimore. Over 12 million vehicles use the road annually. The waterway is the main entry point to the port of Baltimore, which is now completely blocked.
Rescue workers are working through cold and extremely dangerous conditions of the mangled bridge infrastructure, amongst cars and trucks that were seen in videos prior to the collapse. The fire chief reported at least one rescued worker from the water, who refused medical transport and one additional rescued individual who was transported to an area hospital.
What’s next?
Baltimore City Fire Department officials will continue to work with all of the local state and federal partners as the situation unfolds. We will continue to watch reports and follow the rescue stories as they occur.
