Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed after struck by container ship

Search and rescue operations are underway after the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed in Baltimore after being hit by a container ship at about 1:30 a.m. Tuesday, March 26, sending at least eight construction workers into the water as a large section of the bridge crashed into the Patapsco River.

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said the freighter, traveling at a relatively rapid speed of about eight knots, lost power in the moments before it struck the bridge.

Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul J. Wiedefeld said a construction crew was on the bridge at the time it collapsed. The workers were repairing potholes and masonry. Wiedenfeld said officials believe that eight members of that crew fell into the water. Two have been rescued.

Authorities responded to the scene after the crew of the vessel that struck the bridge alerted officials to a power problem, according to Moore, who said that the span was “fully up to code” and that there was “no credible evidence” that terrorism was involved.

“We had officials that were able to begin to stop the flow of traffic so that more cars were not on the bridge,” Moore said. “Many of the vehicles were stopped before they got on the bridge, which saved lives.”

Officials declined to say when the bridge would be repaired or how much the repairs would cost. Around 35,000 people per day used the bridge, according to Wiedefeld.