The Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed Tuesday morning after a cargo ship collided with it. The 2.6-mile bridge carries Interstate 695 and crosses the Patapsco River in Baltimore, Maryland. The crash was captured on a livestream that showed traffic moving along the bridge and construction crews working on the structure.
Below is a timeline of events that occurred on March 26, 2024.
The Dali, a 948-foot container ship that would eventually crash into the Francis Scott Key Bridge, left the Port of Baltimore. The ship headed for Colombo, Sri Lanka, on a month-long voyage. A few minutes before 1:30 a.m., Dali lost power. The ship’s lights flashed on and off as the ship made its way towards the bridge supports.
Live updates: Baltimore bridge collapse
1:26am – The ship issued mayday call. According to FOX 5 Washington, D.C., the emergency alert allowed police to prevent additional vehicles from driving onto the bridge before it collapsed.
1:28am – The ship was traveling at approximately 9 miles per hour and struck a bridge support. Within seconds, the structure collapsed and crashed into the river. Construction workers and vehicles working across the bridge fell into the Patapsco River.
All lanes of Interstate 695 were closed in both directions after the bridge collapsed. (Kenna Betancourt)
1:35am – Emergency crews were called to the Baltimore area after part of a bridge appeared to have collapsed.
Search and rescue operations for survivors of bridge collapse accident
1:50am – First responders arrived on scene and reported a complete bridge collapse.
Congress will consider emergency spending measure to replace Baltimore bridge after collapse
1:59am – The Maryland Department of Transportation posted on social media that all lanes of Interstate 695 are closed in both directions.
Francis Scott Key Bridge was built in 1977. (Thassos Katopodis)
3am – First responders reported there was a person in the water.
5:08am – U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced on social media that the U.S. Department of Transportation has offered its assistance.
6am – Maryland Governor Wes Moore declared a state of emergency and announced he was in contact with Buttigieg and other officials to obtain federal resources.
Biden says he has crossed the closed Francis Scott Key Bridge “many times” while commuting by train or car.
Around this time, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) also arrived on the scene.
6:30am – Baltimore Fire Department Chief James Wallace announced that two victims were rescued from the water, one of them in critical condition.
The Francis Scott Key Bridge, a large bridge spanning the Patapsco River in Baltimore, Maryland, collapsed after colliding with a large cargo ship, prompting a massive emergency response Tuesday. (Jasper Colt/USA Today)
7:30 PM – The Coast Guard and Maryland State Police said search and rescue efforts for six construction workers have been called off. They said at a press conference that they did not believe they would be found alive.
Divers plan to continue searching starting at 6:30 a.m. Wednesday, officials said.
Expected effects of the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse
Approximately 31,000 vehicles pass through the Francis Scott Key Bridge every day, built in 1977. The collapse is likely to cause temporary traffic delays for local residents and the economy.
The Port of Baltimore is a major transportation route for vehicles, agricultural machinery, construction equipment, agricultural machinery, and more. With three major cruise lines sailing from the Port of Baltimore to their destinations, cruise lines will also have to adjust their routes.
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The full impact of the bridge collapse is not yet known.
