Remains of two people recovered as details emerge about Baltimore bridge collapse – The Washington Post
Democracy Dies in Darkness
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) and Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott (D) assessed the collapsed Key Bridge from a Coast Guard cutter on March 27. (Video: Hadley Green, Joshua Carroll/The Washington Post)
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Divers recovered the remains of two people from a red pickup truck submerged in the Patapsco River, officials said Wednesday, nearly 35 hours after a massive container ship crashed into Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge and sent it plunging into the water. Recovery efforts for remaining victims were called off as conditions made it impossible for divers to safely navigate the wreckage. Officials will now begin a salvage operation. Sonar has indicated that there are more vehicles near the underwater rubble, authorities said during a news conference Wednesday evening. At least six people, part of a construction crew that was repairing potholes and masonry on the bridge, are presumed dead. Two other workers were rescued.
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Baltimore bridge collapse
Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed after being hit by a cargo ship, sending at least eight people from a construction crew into the water. Two people were rescued and the remaining six are presumed dead, officials said. Follow live updates and see photos from the scene.
How it happened: The container ship lost power shortly before hitting the bridge, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) said. Video shows the bridge collapse in under 40 seconds.
Victims: Divers recovered the bodies of two construction workers who died, while finding other vehicles trapped and probably containing the other victims, officials said. They were fathers, husbands and hard workers. The entire crew aboard the container ship Dali survived. First responders shut down most traffic on the four-lane bridge after the crew issued an urgent mayday call. It saved lives, Moore said.
Economic impact: The collapse of the bridge, which severed ocean links to the Port of Baltimore, adds a fresh headache to already struggling global supply chains. See how the collapse will disrupt the supply of cars, coal and other goods.
History: The Key Bridge was built in the 1970s and spanned the Patapsco River. Rebuilding the bridge will probably take years and cost hundreds of millions of dollars, experts said.
