A bridge in Baltimore has collapsed and sent multiple vehicles into the water.
At 1:20 a.m., a Dali container ship collided with the support column of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, which made the 1.6-mile long, four-lane bridge collapse, according to multiple reports. At least seven vehicles went into the Patapsco River; six people are still unaccounted for as of the early morning of March 26.
Two people have been saved from the water, Baltimore Fire Department Chief James Wallace said.
The bridge is an essential link to Interstate 695, known as the Baltimore Beltway. However, when asked about the rebuilding timeline for the structure, Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott said that is the least of his worries.
“I think, right now, listen,” Scott said. “We shouldn’t even be having that discussion right now. The discussion right now should be about the people, the souls, the lives … that we’re trying to save.
“There will be a time to discuss a bridge and how we get a bridge back up,” he continued, “but right now there are people in the water that we have to get out — and that’s the only thing we should be talking about.”
Maryland Governor Wes Moore said there were measures to prevent more vehicles being involved in the collapse. He said the crew on the ship issued a Mayday before colliding with the bridge, which allowed authorities to stop traffic from going on the bridge.
