Mayor says rescue efforts are under way after vessel crashed into Francis Scott Key Bridge, sending vehicles into water

A portion of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore has collapsed after a large boat collided with it early on Tuesday morning, sending multiple vehicles into the water.

At about 1.30am, a vessel crashed into the bridge, catching fire before sinking and causing multiple vehicles to fall into the water below, according to a video posted on X.

“All lanes closed both directions for incident on I-695 Key Bridge. Traffic is being detoured,” the Maryland Transportation Authority posted on X.

Matthew West, a petty officer first class for the coastguard in Baltimore, told the New York Times that the coastguard received a report of an impact at 1.27am ET. West said the Dali, a 948ft (29 metres) Singapore-flagged cargo ship, had hit the bridge, which is part of Interstate 695.

  • @[email protected]
    1•8 months ago

    Oh my god! No way! They’re going to investigate and learn from a rare event! That’s shocking!

    We study things all the time. Your extrapolation that an investigation means something was preventable is evidence that your higher brain function has been damaged.

    • drphungkyEnglish
      3•8 months ago

      You: "There is not a structure capable of being created by man which could sustain that amount of force, head on, and retain its structural integrity.

      Actual engineers in the linked article: literally describe how to build secondary structures to deal with giant ships and prevent head on collisions on bridges.

    • drphungkyEnglish
      1•8 months ago

      I know you stopped responding but I’m piling on because I’m apparently in an impish mood:

      Sherif El-Tawil, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at University of Michigan with expertise in bridges, said if the Key Bridge had been built after those updated standards from the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials were put in place, the span could still be standing.

      “I believe it would have survived,” El-Tawil said.

      From: https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2024/03/26/how-key-bridge-collapsed-baltimore/