Baltimore Key Bridge collapse: Temporary channel opens for boats working on bridge response

The cargo ship struck Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge early Tuesday.

ByEmily Shapiro, Kevin Shalvey, Meredith Deliso, Riley Hoffman, and Nadine El-Bawab
Last Updated: April 1, 2024, 3:31 PM EDT

A cargo ship crashed into Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge early Tuesday morning, causing a near-total collapse of the span and halting vessel traffic into and out of the Port of Baltimore.

Six construction workers are believed to have fallen from the collapsing bridge into the frigid waters of the Patapsco River below. The bodies of two of the victims have been recovered so far, while four remain missing and are presumed dead, officials said.

Latest headlines:

Here's how the news is developing.
Mar 27, 2024, 7:05 pm

What to know about the collapse

The container ship Dali struck Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge at about 1:30 a.m. Tuesday, partially collapsing the bridge, officials in Maryland said.

A local pilot was at the helm of the ship at the time, Maryland Department of Transportation Secretary Paul Wiedefeld said.

The steel frame of the Francis Scott Key Bridge sits on top of the container ship Dali after the bridge collapsed, Baltimore, March 26, 2024.
Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images

The crash appeared to be accidental, not intentional, officials said.

Two construction workers were rescued and six went missing in the immediate aftermath of the collapse, officials said. The bodies of two of the victims were recovered from the water on Wednesday amid ongoing search and recovery efforts, while four remain missing and are presumed dead, officials said.

Mar 26, 2024, 10:44 AM EDT

What to know about the cargo ship

The ship departed from the Port of Baltimore at 1 a.m. on Tuesday, embarking on a 27-day journey to Colombo, Sri Lanka. The ship "lost propulsion" as it was leaving the port and warned Maryland officials of a possible collision, according to officials.

A view of the Dali cargo vessel which crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge causing it to collapse in Baltimore, March 26, 2024.
Julia Nikhinson/Reuters

The waterway into and out of the port is closed and there is no other route into the port, which is the second busiest port in the Mid-Atlantic.

Click here to read more.

Mar 26, 2024, 9:47 AM EDT

Governor declares state of emergency

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore has declared a state of emergency following the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore.

"We are working with an interagency team to quickly deploy federal resources from the Biden Administration," Moore said in a statement.

Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott also declared a local state of emergency.

A view of the Dali cargo vessel which crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge causing it to collapse in Baltimore, March 26, 2024.
Baltimore City Fire Department Rescue Company via Reuters

Mar 26, 2024, 9:28 AM EDT

The history of Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge

The 1.6-mile bridge on the I-695 beltway crosses the Patapsco River, where Francis Scott Key was inspired to write the words of the U.S. national anthem in 1814, according to the Maryland Transportation Authority.

The bridge, which was completed in 1975, spans 1.6 miles over the Patapsco River in Maryland.
0:48
History of Francis Scott Key BridgeThe bridge, which was completed in 1975, spans 1.6 miles over the Patapsco River in Maryland.
WJLA

Key, after whom the bridge was named, was also an advisor to Andrew Jackson, served as the District Attorney for the District of Columbia from 1833 to 1841, and was a slave owner, according to the National Park Service.

Construction on the bridge, which was intended to ease traffic and maintenance concerns regarding the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel that serviced the waterway, began in 1972 and finished in March 1977, according to the MDTA.

Click here to learn more.

Mar 26, 2024, 8:36 AM EDT

1 person hospitalized in very serious condition

Two people have been rescued from the water and crews are still searching for others, fire officials said.

One person rescued has been taken to a hospital in very serious condition, Baltimore Fire Department Chief James Wallace said.

A view of the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore, March 26, 2024.
Julia Nikhinson/Reuters

The second rescued person denied medical treatment.

“We may be looking for upwards of seven individuals,” according Baltimore City Fire Chief James Wallace.
3:11
Baltimore bridge collapse search yields two rescues“We may be looking for upwards of seven individuals,” according Baltimore City Fire Chief James Wallace.
WJLA

Sponsored Content by Taboola