Tragedy in Baltimore - Key Bridge Collapses After Ship Collision

[+ DynamicUno]

A cargo ship struck the Francis Scott Key Bridge last night, causing it to collapse.  An unknown number of vehicles were caught in the collapse.  This is a critical section of the Baltimore beltway, and a major harbor for shipping.  Both will be closed indefinitely. The story is developing, but this tragedy will have serious impacts for a long time.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/maryland-bridge-collapse-francis-scott-key-bridge-boat-baltimore-rcna145047

Edited March 26 by DynamicUno

[mike carey]

This is a great tragedy the details of which will play out in the coming hours. For Australians of a certain age it brings to mind the collapse of spans of the Tasman Bridge in Hobart after it was hit by the bulk carrier Lake Illawarra in 1975. Twelve people died, seven of the ship's company and five people in cars that fell 45m from the bridge into the River Derwent. This disaster has the potential to have far more victims who were doing no more than driving along a major highway. We can but hope that there are far fewer casualties than is now feared. Requiescat in pace.

[+ Pensant]

This is serious. There are reports that the cargo ship was dark and there was smoke rising. 

[+ DynamicUno]

Early reports are two people have been rescued so far. One was not injured but the other has serious injuries. They are saying at least seven vehicles were on the bridge when it collapsed.

Edited March 26 by DynamicUno

[robberbaron4u]

A tragedy...bridges, airplanes, ships, as with Poor Old Jonathan Bing who went out to visit the King, I venture from home less and less as just 'be careful out there" doesn't assure safety anymore.

[Welshman]

The BBC World Business Report is reporting that as a result of this accident, there are 40 ships stuck in the harbour of Baltimore, and that as a result the ECB (European Central Bank) has issued a statement that they believe their aim for inflation to reach 2% by the end of the second quarter of 2024 will be missed as a result of this accident.

[Welshman]

The BBC Verify service (part of the BBC World News output) has just published a diagram showing that the ship was at least 50m off course on the starboard side of its intended route, and was caused by a deviation to the route some 2 km before the bridge

[+ DynamicUno]

43 minutes ago, Welshman said:

The BBC Verify service (part of the BBC World News output) has just published a diagram showing that the ship was at least 50m off course on the starboard side of its intended route, and was caused by a deviation to the route some 2 km before the bridge

New reports say the ship had some sort of power problem.  They were able to radio authorities onshore and it sounds like they were trying to restrict traffic on the bridge before the impact, so that may have saved some lives.  It is fortunate this happened late at night instead of during the commuting hours, too.

The latest says that six people are unaccounted for.

 

[EZEtoGRU]

It's reported that traffic was stopped in both directions before the bridge collapse.  However, there were some workers on the bridge at the time filling potholes and it seems they ended up in the water.  Several but not all were rescued.  It's also reported that multiple cars went in the water as well.  If traffic had been stopped, they may have been the worker's cars that had been parked on the bridge.  

[+ Italiano]

It is a tragedy, "luckily" it didn't happen during daytime because it would have been a carnage for sure as that bridge (which I have crossed several times) was always quite congested, but anyway the financial repercussions will be definitely seen. And traffic will be much worse on the other bridges....

[+ Pensant]

Years ago I read a book called Seven Tomorrows. I believe it was published in 1985. I wonder if we’re entering the era of Chronic Breakdown?

[marylander1940]

Unfortunately, conspiracy theories are already spreading, and some will profit promoting them!

[+ Lucky]

I'm so glad that @marylander1940 was not on the bridge at the time. He's the only poster from Maryland that I am aware of.

[BSR]

The FBI has opened up a criminal probe into the cargo ship's "malfunction" that caused it to crash into the bridge.  Who knows what will come out of the criminal investigation, but in civil court lawyers aplenty are pursuing compensation both for repair costs, which will obviously be substantial, as well as for the deaths of the 6 workers.

[wsc]

14 hours ago, BSR said:

The FBI has opened up a criminal probe into the cargo ship's "malfunction" that caused it to crash into the bridge.  Who knows what will come out of the criminal investigation, but in civil court lawyers aplenty are pursuing compensation both for repair costs, which will obviously be substantial, as well as for the deaths of the 6 workers.

From what I've seen and read, the operational record of the ship that struck the bridge is abysmal, and could constitute support for a charge of negligence.