A container ship hit the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, causing it to collapse into the Patapsco River along with people and vehicles.
The crew of the ship notified officials that it had lost power prior to the crash, which Maryland Governor Wes Moore noted saved lives.
Driving the news: At least six construction crew members remain unaccounted for, while two people were pulled from the river – one not injured, and the other taken to a local trauma center in very serious condition. Several vehicles are believed to have fallen into the water, including one as large as a tractor-trailer.
- No crew members on the ship were injured, and the ship is in a stable condition.
- Multiple agencies are investigating the crash, and there is no indication that it was intentional.
- The White house is closely monitoring the situation, and US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is offering federal support in response to the collapse.
The backstory: Video footage of the incident shows a towering boat headed directly toward one of the bridge’s support columns before colliding with it, sending a massive stretch of the bridge crashing into the water below in mere seconds.
- The bridge extended over the Patapsco River and served as an essential link of I-695, or the Baltimore Beltway.
- Search and rescue crews are currently working on the rescue effort, with high tide posing a challenge for rescuers looking for people.
