Posted on 03/26/24
| News Source: Pikesville Patch
Baltimore, MD - Mar. 26, 2024 - A ship that hit the Francis Scott Key Bridge, causing it to collapse overnight in Baltimore, lost power before the crash, authorities said. State officials said six people are missing, likely members of a work crew patching concrete on the highway portion.
A representative of the company the construction workers are employed by told The Associated Press that they are presumed dead given the water’s depth and the length of time since the crash. Jeffrey Pritzker, executive vice president of Brawner Builders, said the crew was working in the middle of the bridge when it came apart.
CNN reported that one body has been pulled from the water. Baltimore City Council Member Phylicia Porter told CNN’s Boris Sanchez, “We are hearing one body was found.”
Authorities have not said that any victims have been retrieved so far. As of 4:30 p.m. helicopters were still flying over the scene as search efforts continue.
U. S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg reiterated that the federal government will handle the cost of rebuilding the bridge. A new freight office has opened at the port to address supply chain problems.
"This is no ordinary bridge, this is one of the cathedrals of American architecture," Buttigieg said. "So the path to normalcy will not be easy, it will not be quick, it will not be inexpensive."
When asked how long the shipping channel will be closed, Buttigieg said, it will be a major and protracted issue for the supply chain.
President Biden said from the White House that he intends for the federal government to pay the entire cost of rebuilding the bridge and port.
“I’ve directed my team to move heaven and earth to rebuild that bridge as soon as humanly possible,” Biden said. "To the people of Baltimore: We’re with you, we’re going to stay with you.”
The National Transportation Safety Board arrived in Baltimore Tuesday afternoon to lead the investigation into what caused the collision. Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy said local search teams and the NTSB need to verify exactly how many people are missing, and the nuber of cars on the bridge as the span gave way.
“Nobody is going by a number, they’re just looking and searching, that’s what’s important," Homendy said. “The focus is on the families and the people.”
Investigators will look at any deficiencies on the vessel before it sailed, its safety history, and maintenance done to the vessel.
The Maryland Transportation Authority, which operated the bridge, confirmed the collision and the collapse at 3:20 a.m. The superstructure of the bridge was more than 100 feet above the water, and a portion of it is now resting on the front of the ship.
The ship’s crew had notified authorities they had lost power before striking the support. Officials on the ground raced to stop cars from going over the bridge once the mayday call was made, which saved lives, Gov. Wes Moore said.
Paul Wiedefeld, Maryland transportation secretary, said rescuers are looking for six people, with one rescued person at Maryland Shock Trauma and another rescued person who was not hurt. The six missing are believed to be the construction crew, and authorities said at their 10 a.m. update that it is unlikely there is anyone in the vehicles in the water.
An FBI official, Moore and other leaders reiterated that there is no sign the crash was an act of terrorism.
Key Commuter Route Severed
Moore said 30,000 Marylanders use the route for commute route daily.
“To hear the words 'the Key bridge has collapsed' is shocking," Moore said. "The words that the Key Bridge is gone ... it shakes us, for 47 years that’s all we’ve known. It’s not just unprecedented, it’s heartbreaking.”
No ships may enter or exit Baltimore harbor while the Dali is trapped under the bridge wreckage. Rep. Kweisi Mfume of Baltimore said the closure will "have a huge economic impact" on the region's economy, noting the Baltimore port is one of the biggest in the nation.
The Associated Press reported that the initial calls came around 1:30 a.m. that people may have fallen into the Patapsco River.
“This is a dire emergency,” Baltimore Fire Department spokesperson Kevin Cartwright told The AP. “Our focus right now is trying to rescue and recover these people.”