The Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore collapsed after being struck by a boat on March 26, 2024, killing six people.
The cargo ship was going to go under the bridge at 1:30 am when suddenly the cargo ship went pitch black in the inside because of some power issues. Then they lost power of everything and could not steer the cargo ship. They issued a “Mayday” call but it was too late for anyone to intervene or to clear the bridge. The bridge collapsed within seconds of being struck.
At the time of the collision there were several workers filling potholes on the Baltimore bridge. All six workers died, and the twenty cars on the bridge were submerged as well as a truck with two people in it. Those two people were rescued.
The steel from the bridge and containers from the 985 feet cargo ship–totalling costs of about $213 million dollars– were damaged.
Access to the Port of Baltimore remains limited. The bridge that expanded across Baltimore originally cost $110 million to build in 1977, but with inflation is expected to cost $400 million dollars to replace. The timeline to rebuild is estimated at five to seven years according to ABC News.
This collapse is expected to have a big impact on the economy. The bridge is responsible for effecting 15,000 direct and 140,000 indirect jobs and bring in $70 billion in revenue each year.
Since the crash, four bodies have been recovered according to CBS News. Three of the victims whose bodies have been recovered were identified as Dorlian Cabrera from Guatemala, Alejandro Hernandez Fuentes from Mexico, and Maynor Yasir Suazo-Sandoval from Guatemala. Two workers are still missing.
The cleanup crews have also recovered over 1,300 tons of steel, says CBS News. The work of the bridge is currently being funded through $60 million in emergency relief funds.
The 22-person crew of the Dali are still on the ship. They have been there since March 26 because they do not have visas to leave the ship. CBS News notes that essentials are belong delivered to them.
According to The New York Times, the owner of the Dali, the ship that hit Key Bridge, has been ruled negligent and a lawsuit has been filed. The lawsuit claims that the owner of the Dali knew that the bridge was “unseaworthy” according to New York Post.
