Everything we know about the Baltimore bridge collapse
Summary
TLDRA major bridge collapse in Baltimore, caused by a cargo ship collision, has resulted in the tragic loss of six construction workers. The incident led to a swift and coordinated rescue effort, which has now transitioned to a recovery operation due to the challenging conditions. The bridge, a critical part of the city's infrastructure, has been a symbol of connection and economic vitality. The ongoing investigation, led by the National Transportation Safety Board, will examine the ship's operations and safety protocols, while the community comes together to support the victims' families and begin the process of rebuilding.
Takeaways
- 🌉 The Francis Scott Key bridge in Baltimore collapsed after being struck by a cargo ship, leading to a major transportation disruption and a significant impact on the local community.
- 🚨 Emergency services rescued two individuals from the incident, one with minor injuries and the other seriously injured but later discharged from the hospital.
- 🚢 The cargo ship involved in the collision lost propulsion and control, issuing a Mayday call which allowed authorities to close the bridge to traffic and potentially save lives.
- 🔍 An investigation is underway by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and other agencies to determine the cause of the accident and assess safety protocols.
- 🌟 The community and officials have come together in a show of support, with a vigil held for the six missing construction workers presumed dead.
- 🛠️ The Port of Baltimore, a major economic hub, has been closed indefinitely, affecting supply chains and causing rerouting of traffic and cargo.
- 🌐 The incident has garnered national attention, with federal officials pledging support and resources to assist in recovery and rebuilding efforts.
- 🔗 The bridge, a symbol of the community, connected key areas and its collapse has deeply affected residents, many of whom have personal ties to the structure.
- 🚨 The search and rescue operation has transitioned to a recovery mission, with the six construction workers now presumed dead.
- 🌧️ Weather and water conditions have complicated the rescue and recovery efforts, with challenges such as low visibility and cold temperatures.
- 🔄 The recovery process is expected to be lengthy and complex, involving coordination between multiple agencies and careful navigation of the bridge debris.
Q & A
What was the cause of the Francis Scott Key bridge collapse?
-The Francis Scott Key bridge collapsed after one of its columns was hit by a cargo ship.
How many people were initially reported as rescued from the bridge collapse?
-Two people were initially reported as rescued from the bridge collapse.
What was the condition of the person who was seriously injured and taken to Shock Trauma?
-The person who was seriously injured and taken to Shock Trauma was discharged after receiving treatment.
What was the reaction of the local community to the bridge collapse?
-The local community was in shock and many reported feeling the ground shake due to the impact. Some residents expressed disbelief and shared memories of the bridge.
What was the role of the off-duty Shock Trauma staff in the aftermath of the bridge collapse?
-The off-duty Shock Trauma staff contacted the hospital and offered their assistance in the mass casualty incident.
What was the Maryland governor's statement regarding the bridge collapse?
-Maryland Governor Wes Moore stated that the preliminary investigation points to an accident and that there was no credible evidence of a terrorist attack. He assured that the administration is working closely with leaders from all levels of government and society to respond to the crisis.
What was the impact of the bridge collapse on the Port of Baltimore?
-The Port of Baltimore was forced to close indefinitely, which is expected to cause significant supply chain disruptions. The port is one of the nation's largest shipping hubs, handling a record amount of cargo and being the top port in America for both imports and exports of automobiles and light trucks.
What was the timeline between the pilot's notification of a problem and the collision?
-Approximately 2 minutes elapsed between when the pilot and crew first notified Maryland authorities of an issue with the cargo ship and when the collision with the bridge occurred.
What was the significance of the Mayday call from the cargo ship?
-The Mayday call from the cargo ship was critical as it allowed officials to limit some traffic on the bridge before the crash, potentially saving lives.
What was the status of the search and rescue operation for the missing workers?
-The active search and rescue efforts were suspended as officials did not believe they would find the missing individuals alive. The operation transitioned to a recovery phase.
What challenges were faced during the recovery efforts?
-The recovery efforts faced challenges such as difficult water temperatures, structures from the bridge in the water that could move with tides and currents, and the presence of a large amount of debris.
Outlines
🌉 Bridge Collapse in Baltimore
The Francis Scott Key bridge in Baltimore has tragically collapsed after being struck by a cargo ship. The incident occurred around 1:30 a.m., with the bridge falling into the water and a tractor trailer on it at the time. The Baltimore City Fire Department is unsure of the number of vehicles involved, but two people have been rescued, one with serious injuries and the other refusing medical treatment. The hospital is preparing for a potential mass casualty incident, and off-duty staff have offered their assistance. The rescue effort is challenging due to low water visibility and temperature.
🚢 Cargo Ship's Mayday Call
The cargo ship involved in the collision had lost propulsion and notified the Maryland Department of Transportation of the potential for a collision with the bridge. The ship sent a Mayday call after losing power, allowing officials to limit traffic on the bridge, potentially saving lives. The NTSB has launched an investigation, but they were unable to access the ship's recorders on the day of the incident. Maryland Governor Wes Moore reassured the public that the preliminary investigation points to an accident, with no evidence of a terrorist attack. The governor emphasized the state's resilience and commitment to rebuilding the bridge and port.
🛠️ Impact on the Port and Economy
The collapse of the bridge has led to the closure of the Port of Baltimore, one of the nation's largest shipping hubs. The port handles a significant amount of cargo and supports over 15,000 jobs, making it a critical component of the regional and national economy. The halt in operations will have a substantial impact on supply chains, and efforts will be made to divert traffic to other ports and manage the disruption. The bridge itself was a vital part of the infrastructure, with over 30,000 vehicles crossing daily, and its reconstruction will be a significant undertaking.
🚨 Search and Rescue Transitions to Recovery
After extensive search and rescue efforts, officials have made the difficult decision to transition from active search and rescue to recovery operations for the six missing individuals. The water temperature and dangerous conditions for divers have made it unlikely that any survivors will be found. The Coast Guard and other agencies will continue to work on recovering the victims and clearing the channel, with the support of the community and First Responders.
🕵️ Investigation and Supply Chain Disruptions
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and other agencies are investigating the incident, focusing on the operations and safety protocols of the cargo vessel. The closure of the Port of Baltimore will cause significant supply chain disruptions, and efforts will be made to mitigate these effects. Federal funds may be used to lessen the impact on workers and commerce, and the investigation will continue to explore the causes of the accident and how to prevent similar incidents in the future.
💔 Community Support and Vigil
The Baltimore community has come together in the wake of the tragedy, showing support for the missing workers and First Responders. A vigil was held at Mount Olive Baptist Church, with community leaders, including the mayor and county executive, in attendance. The community is grappling with the loss of the iconic Key Bridge and the presumed deaths of the construction workers. The outpouring of support and unity during this difficult time reflects the strength of the Baltimore and Maryland communities.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Francis Scott Key Bridge
💡Cargo Ship
💡Collapse
💡Rescue Efforts
💡Trauma Facility
💡Investigation
💡Supply Chain Disruptions
💡Community Support
💡First Responders
💡Infrastructure
Highlights
The Francis Scott Key bridge in Baltimore has collapsed after a cargo ship hit one of its columns.
The Baltimore City Fire Department is unsure of how many vehicles were on the bridge at the time of the collapse.
A tractor-trailer was on the bridge when it collapsed, and video footage captures the dramatic moment of the ship's impact.
Two people have been rescued so far, with one being discharged from Shock Trauma after serious injuries.
The visibility in the water and the temperature, which was below 50°, made the rescue efforts extremely challenging.
One of the rescued individuals refused medical treatment, indicating they were not seriously injured.
People miles away reported feeling the ground shake due to the impact of the collapse.
Crews worked for hours in the dark and cold Patapsco River to rescue those who fell into the water.
The NTSB has launched an independent investigation into the incident.
The tugs on the cargo ship Dolly were loose prior to the collision, but it is not required for an escort to be present when passing under the bridge.
Maryland Governor Wes Moore stated that the preliminary investigation points to an accident and there is no credible evidence of a terrorist attack.
A Mayday call was sent by the ship after losing power, allowing officials to limit traffic on the bridge before the crash.
The Port of Baltimore remains closed and traffic is rerouted, with many expressing disbelief at the loss of the Key Bridge.
The bridge collapse has had a significant impact on the community and the economy, as it was a key part of the infrastructure and daily life in Baltimore.
The search and rescue operation has been suspended, as it is believed that the six missing individuals are likely deceased.
The recovery operation will continue in hopes of finding and recovering the six missing construction workers.
The Port of Baltimore is one of the nation's largest shipping hubs, and its closure will have a significant effect on supply chains and local jobs.
Community members and leaders came together for a vigil to support the families of the missing workers and to pray for the First Responders.
Transcripts
we're coming on the air this hour with
some breaking news out of Baltimore this
is where the Francis Scott Key bridge
has collapsed after one of its columns
was hit by a cargo ship the Baltimore
City Fire Department says it is unsure
how many vehicles were on the bridge
when this happened but there was a
tractor trailer on it take a look at
this
video cbs's Jared Hill is here with more
on this story Jared this video just so
dramatic I mean this is unbelievable
Chanel looking at this video where you
see the ship hit one of the columns and
then the bridge just collapsed into the
water a major bridge in Baltimore
Maryland has collapsed this happened
just before 1:30 a.m. a cargo ship was
seen crashing into the Francis Scott Key
bridge sing a huge section barreling
into the water the bridge is more than a
mile and a half long and officials
earlier this hour gave us an update we
learned there that two people have so
far been rescued we heard just uh within
the hour that the person who was
transported here and treated here
following that bridge collapse has been
discharged from Shock Trauma we've heard
from Shock Trauma officials that there
will be a press conference from
Physicians within the next 20 minutes or
so now because of HIPPA they're not
going to be able to provide much
information on the patient who the
patient is and the types of injuries
that they had and that they were dealing
with but they are going to discuss how
the hospital was prepared for this mass
casualty incident and how off-duty Shock
Trauma staff contacted the hospital and
offered their assistance as well as them
being a worldclass leading integrated
trauma facility I know we talked about a
lot of things that made this rescue
effort very Grim such as the visibility
in the water the temperature of the
water like we've said below 50° makes it
very difficult to survive and that's
assuming that your head is above the
water and that you can breathe during
this time we know these two individuals
were rescued pretty shortly after the
initial collapse one of them actually
refused medical treatment I guess they
walked away they weren't seriously
injured the other one was seriously
injured and arrived here at Shock Trauma
in serious condition but it is hopeful
that they have been discharged people
miles away reported feeling the ground
shake the explosive impact jolting them
from their beds well I was sleeping
about 1:30 I felt the vibration of the
house vibrating and heard the Big Bang
come down looked out on the water as you
can see you see the ship out there
sinking the bridge is gone and uh it was
it's unbelievable unbelievable I've been
in this neighborhood 5 57 years I
remember when they started building that
bridge and can't believe it's gone I
heard a very loud noise felt like or
heard like thunder to me however it's
like very long Thunder but it was very
loud I live not too far from here in
dundock so I thought it was Thunder or
possibly a train Crews worked for hours
in the dark cold Patapsco River to
rescue those who plunged into the water
members of a construction crew repairing
potholes on the structure I hope ever
single one of them's okay I prayed for
them I'll continue to pray until they're
found or okay investigators will look at
all aspects of the ship and the
bridge this is video from our WJZ crew
that passed under the Key Bridge 11
hours before its collapse my dad he
takes it the middle of the night to
basically like right in the morning cuz
that's what time he gets off so I
imagine him going over that bridge at
like 11:00 a.m. like it's got to be
crazy I'm sure you're going to hug your
dad when you see him I am the biggest
hug the port remains closed traffic
rerouted many simply cannot believe the
Key Bridge is gone you know we go
through a lot sometimes Baltimore gets a
bad rep
but uh that's the one amazing thing
about our community we all come together
and and we fight especially in times of
need and tragedy like this one Nicole
skanga has been following this story for
us all day in Maryland Nicole great to
have you with us you have some new
reporting about what happened on the
ship in the minutes before the bridge
was hit what can you tell
us yeah I want to outline a few things
uh Robert good to be with you first and
foremost I just heard from the Baltimore
County Executive he told me that roughly
2 minutes elapsed between when the pilot
and crew first notified Maryland
authorities that something was wrong
with the cargo containers ship Dolly and
when that Collision occurred at
approximately 1:30 a.m. that is how
quickly local law enforcement here had
to jump into action in order to close
down traffic to and from the bridge
we're also learning uh from local and
Federal law enforcement officials that
the tugs on the dolly were loose prior
uh to the Collision that occurred uh
that it is standard operating procedure
for the tugs to escort uh these large
container ships out of the port out of
their docking station but that it is not
required for an escort to be there uh
when when going under the Francis Scott
Key bridge and so an important note
there and also key for law enforcement
uh in the coming days and spefic
specifically the NTSB which has launched
its independent investigation of this is
getting on board the ship they were not
able NTSB to get on the ship today to
get those recorders to determine at what
time did the power go off at what time
uh did the ships controls really get out
of whack here I was told by law
enforcement uh by internal briefing
papers that uh there were alarms that
rang out aboard the dolly uh that the
pilot in crw really had seconds to run a
few system checks and that it was at
that moment that the system checks
failed that they reached out and
notified Maryland authorities this
morning Maryland governor Wes Moore says
the ship sent a Mayday call after losing
power this enabled officials there to
limit some traffic on the bridge before
the
crash I recognize that many of us are
scared right now and so I want to be
very clear about where everything
stands we are still investing tigating
what happened but we are quickly
Gathering details the preliminary
investigation points to an accident we
haven't seen any credible evidence of a
terrorist attack our Administration is
working closely with leaders from all
levels of government and Society to
respond to this crisis and not but just
by addressing the immediate aftermath
but also by building a state that is
more resilient and a state that's more
safe and I want to bring in Nicole
skanga for more on this story she's on
the ground near the scene of this
collapse at this media checkpoint uh
Nicole you've been there all morning
hearing about this Mayday call that
happens uh before the bridge went down
May indicate what led up to this whole
incident yeah the city of Baltimore
right now in shock and a dramatic
retelling from the governor just then
about this Mayday call now CBS News has
obtained an unclassified Memo from the
Department of Homeland Security that
indicates uh the cargo ship had lost
propulsion it was a motor ship it had
lost propulsion and the memo goes on to
say that the The Vessel notified the
Maryland Department of Transportation
that they had lost control of the vessel
and that a collision with the bridge was
possible just moments ago I asked the
Baltimore mayor Mayor Scott about this
moment he said it was critical in order
for emergency Personnel to get to the
scene and for law enforcement to push
back any further traffic so that no one
else crossed so this Mayday call he says
saved many lives here in Baltimore so I
want to speak briefly about the terrible
incident and accident that happened in
Baltimore this morning at about 1:30
container ship struck the Francis Scott
Key bridge which I've been over many
many times commuting from the state of
Delaware either our trainer by car been
to Baltimore Harvard many times and uh
the bridge collapsed sending several
people Vehicles into the water into the
river and the multiple US Coast Guard
units which are stationed very nearby
thank God were immediately deployed
along with local emergency personnel and
the Coast Guard is leading the response
to the port where representatives from
the Federal Highway Administration the
FBI the Department of Transportation the
Army Corps of Engineers as well as
Maryland officials and Baltimore Police
and Fire they're all working together to
coordinate an emergency response
officials at the scene EST eight people
were unaccounted for still not still
were unaccounted for that number might
change two have been rescued one without
Injury One in critical condition and the
search and rescue operation is
continuing for all those remaining as we
speak I spoke with Governor Moore this
morning as well as the mayor Baltimore
the county executive United to both
United States senators and the
congressman and my secretary
transportation is on the scene I told
them we're going to send all the federal
resources they need as we respond to
this emergency and I mean all the
federal resources and we're going to
rebuild that Port together everything so
far indicates that this was a terrible
accident at this time we have no other
indication no other reason to believe
there's any intentional act here
Personnel on board the ship were able to
alert the Maryland Department of
Transportation that they had lost
control of their vessel as you all know
and reported as a result local
authorities were able to close the
bridge of traffic before the bridge was
struck which doubtedly Sav lives and our
prayers are with everyone involved in
this terrible accident all the families
especially those waiting for the news of
their loved one right now I know every
minute in that circumstance feels like a
lifetime you just don't know it's just
terrible we're incredibly grateful for
the brave Rescuers who immediately rush
to the scene and to the people of
Baltimore who want to say we're with you
we're going to stay with you as long as
it takes and like Governor said your
Maryland tough your Baltimore strong and
we're going to get through this together
and I promise we're not leaving here's
what's happening now the search and
rescue operation is our top priority
ship traffic in the Port of Baltimore
has been suspended until further notice
and we'll need to clear that channel
before the ship traffic can resume the
Army Corps of Engineers is on the spot
and is going to help lead this effort to
clear the channel the Port of Baltimore
is one of the nation's largest shipping
hubs and I been there a number of times
as a senator and as a vice president it
handles a record amount of cargo last
year it's also the top port in America
for both imports and exports of
automobiles and light trucks around
850,000 Vehicles go through that Port
every single year and we're going to get
it up and running again as soon as
possible 15,000 jobs depend on that port
and we're going to do everything we can
to protect those jobs and help those
workers the bridge is also critical to
for travel not just for Baltimore but
for the Northeast Corridor over 30,000
Vehicles cross the Francis scoty bridge
on a daily basis is
virtually that well it's one of the most
important elements for the economy in
the Northeast and the quality of life my
Transportation secretary is there now as
I told Governor Moore I've directed my
team to move Heaven and Earth to reopen
the port and rebuild the bridge as soon
as humanly possible and we're going to
work hand inand with the support of
Maryland to support Maryland whatever
they ask for we're going to work with
our partners in Congress to make sure
the state gets the support it needs it's
my intention that federal government
will pay for the entire cost of
reconstructing that bridge and I expect
the Congress to support my effort this
is going to take some time the people of
Baltimore can count on us though to
stick with them at every step of the way
until the port is reopened and the
bridge is rebuilt you know we're not
leaving until this job gets done not
leave until then so I just want to say
God bless everybody who uh everyone harm
this morning and their families and may
God bless the First Responders many of
them risking their lives March 23rd
1977 Baltimore welcomed the Key Bridge
spaning across the psico river
completing the Eastern sector of I
695 the bridge was a key part of you
know the skyline of our infrastructure
um it it knits together the fabric of
communities connecting dun to Baltimore
and Baltimore to the world construction
on the 1.6 mile bridge started in
1972 to ease congestion throughout the
city Nicholas reading CEO and president
of preservation Maryland says the
estimated $110 million project filled a
major void in transportation shipping
and infrastructure they knew that there
had to be a second Crossing and
initially they thought that they would
build uh a tunnel um but the the reality
was the tunnel was going to be too
expensive uh and this bridge would not
only uh be cheaper but would allow them
to move a lot of materials um in a
pretty heavily congested area one of the
longest truss bridges in the United
States named after Francis Scott Key who
was inspired to write the Star Spangled
Banner after witnessing the bombardment
of Fort McKenry and 8 154 CU it's
believed that key was about 100 yard
away give or take from the bridge itself
when he was a board ship and penned what
would become uh our Star Spangled Banner
also nestled between Fort Carroll and
its 47 years the iconic Bridge has
undergone many changes and perhaps the
most notable its expansion to the lanes
leading up to it there was expansion
efforts to make sure that there were
four lanes meeting it on either side um
so there have been upgrades expansions
done to this uh facility over the years
aiding the nearly 31,000 people that
mdta says traveled the bridge each and
every day and over 11 million a year
sometimes we take things like this for
granted and then when we lose them um
you know we we really see the impact
quite profoundly the effort to rebuild
it uh is going to be equally historic um
because it's going to be uh a big effort
to not only do that but to do it quickly
safely
and we want to take you now to Baltimore
where officials are giving an update on
this morning's bridge collapse as well
as Colonel Roland L Butler Jr
superintendent Maryland State Police uh
tonight we're going to hear from uh
brief statement from each of them on
current
updates and after that we'll be able to
take a few questions uh but we do need
to keep it brief because we want to get
these folks back to work uh with that
I'd like to introduce re Admiral Shannon
G hey good evening everyone first I'd
like to say thank you to all of the
First Responders that have come out
today to assist in looking for these
individuals we've had tremendous support
across the state and County and City and
federal Enterprise you've seen for
yourself the helicopters flying over the
small boats that are out there the Coast
Guard Cutters out there the boats that
go back and forth bringing people out on
scene to search for these individuals so
thank you to those this entire Community
for helping in that regard second I want
to say thank you to the community for
the outpouring of support to those First
Responders and in particularly the