A major Baltimore bridge collapsed like a house of cards early Tuesday morning after it was struck by a container ship, sending several vehicles plunging into the dark water below, sparking an intense search for survivors and shutting down one of the nation’s busiest ports.
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore declared a state of emergency and said the calamity that knocked down the Francis Scott Key Bridge was likely the result of an accident and not an act of terrorism.
Moore said the cargo ship Dali notified authorities it lost power and issued a mayday moments before the 984-foot vessel slammed into a bridge support at a speed of eight knots, which is about nine miles per hour.
Meanwhile, rescue crews using sonar detected at least five vehicles in the frigid 50-foot-deep water, including three passengers cars, a cement truck and another vehicle of some kind, Moore said.
An unknown number of workers were doing repairs on the bridge when the ship hit a support pillar and at least six people were still believed to be missing, Moore said.
An ‘active search-and-rescue posture’
Earlier, two people were rescued from the water, Baltimore Fire Chief James Wallace said.
One was in good condition and refused treatment, Wallace said. The other was seriously injured and was being treated in a trauma center.
“We are still very much in an active search-and-rescue posture at this point,” Wallace said.
Moore said there might be more drivers in the water were it not for the “folks” who, upon hearing the mayday, blocked off the bridge and kept other cars from crossing.
“These people are heroes,” Moore said. “They saved lives. They saved lives.”
