Baltimore Bridge Collapse – Ship Strike Decimates I-695 Key Bridge

A cargo ship leaving the Port of Baltimore early morning March 26 crashed into a pillar on the I-695/Francis Scott Key Bridge causing the bridge to collapse.

The 1.6-mile steel-arched bridge had a construction crew and multiple vehicles on it when it crashed into the Patapsco River.

Video footage of the event from a live-stream camera at the port channel shows the Dali cargo ship striking a bridge pillar at about 1:30 a.m. Immediately the four-lane span above collapsed, then the two other central spans crashed into the water. The complete collapse occurred in less than 1 minute.

Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul Wiedefeld, who called the incident a "catastrophic collapse," reported that a crew, made up of contractors for the Maryland Transportation Authority, was patching potholes on the bridge at the time of the strike. Two people have been rescued, and six are still being searched for by rescue and dive teams. One of the rescued was not injured, while one was reportedly hospitalized with serious injuries.

Rescue Team 1, Baltimore City Fire DepartmentFive vehicles, including a cement truck, were also on the bridge and have been located with sonar, according to CNN. Rescue teams from various agencies continue to comb the waters. The FBI, National Transportation Safety Board and various agencies are investigating the cause of the collapse.

The FBI has issued a statement saying there is no evidence of terrorism. According to Maryland Governor Wes Moore, the ship sent a mayday warning right before the crash that it had lost propulsion and was headed toward the pillar.