BALTIMORE. A catastrophic event unfolded in Baltimore as a massive cargo ship lost control, hurtling towards the Francis Scott Key Bridge. With just about 90 seconds to spare, law enforcement scrambled to halt traffic on the bridge, but their efforts couldn’t prevent disaster.
“The whole bridge just fell down,” one officer’s frantic voice crackled over the radio. “Start, start whoever, everybody … the whole bridge just collapsed.”
The container ship Dali collided with a support pillar around 1:30 a.m. Tuesday, causing a significant section of the bridge to crumple into the Patapsco River. In its wake, six workers from a construction crew, who had been filling potholes on the bridge, were missing and presumed dead. The aftermath of the collapse is expected to disrupt commuter traffic and impede vital shipping operations in the region.
“This was so completely unforeseen,” lamented Jeffrey Pritzker, an executive with Brawner Builders, the company employing the missing crew. “We take such great pride in safety.”
As rescue efforts ensued and investigations began, details emerged about the ship’s movements. Video footage captured the vessel hurtling toward the bridge at approximately 9 mph (15 kph), prompting Governor Wes Moore to underscore the technical challenges of navigating restricted waters without propulsion or steering.
Amidst the chaos, the tragedy’s human toll reverberated. Father Ako Walker, a Catholic priest, stood alongside anguished families awaiting news of their loved ones. “You can see the pain etched on their faces,” he said.
The fallout from the collapse extends far beyond Baltimore. With shipping traffic halted indefinitely at the Port of Baltimore, a major East Coast hub, logistical headaches loom large. U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg emphasized the gravity of the situation, while President Joe Biden pledged federal support for the rebuilding efforts.
As the sun rose on a shattered bridge and shattered lives, the city of Baltimore grappled with an unthinkable tragedy. Mayor Brandon Scott mourned the loss, while praising the swift actions of first responders who, by halting traffic, saved lives amid the chaos.
“Literally by being able to stop cars from coming over the bridge, these people are heroes,” Governor Moore affirmed. “They saved lives last night.”
Gary P Hernal started college at UP Diliman and received his BA in Economics from San Sebastian College, Manila, and Masters in Information Systems Management from Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University in Oak Brook, IL. He has 25 years of copy editing and management experience at Thomson West, a subsidiary of Thomson Reuters.
