Cargo Ship Collision Leads to Baltimore Bridge Collapse, Six Presumed Dead

A cargo ship crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore early Tuesday, causing the bridge to collapse into the river and potentially disrupting shipping at the Port of Baltimore for months. Six people are missing and presumed dead. The ship's crew, all Indian and numbering 22 in total, issued a mayday call moments before the crash. The ship struck one of the bridge's supports, causing it to collapse and catch fire, with thick black smoke billowing from the vessel.Maryland Gov. Wes Moore praised authorities who managed to stop vehicles from crossing the bridge just in time, calling them "heroes" who "saved lives last night." The six missing individuals were part of a construction crew working on the bridge at the time of the collapse. Rescuers pulled two people from the water, while multiple vehicles also fell into the river.The bridge collapse is expected to create logistical challenges along the East Coast for months or even years, shutting down ship traffic at the Port of Baltimore and affecting cargo and commuter traffic. Maryland state Sen. Johnny Ray Salling said, "Losing this bridge will devastate the entire area, as well as the entire East Coast."The Synergy Marine Group-managed ship, called the Dali, hit a pillar of the bridge while under control of one or more pilots. All crew members and pilots on board were accounted for, with no reported injuries. The ship was moving at 8 knots (approximately 9 mph) at the time of the crash.President Joe Biden has pledged federal support for rebuilding the bridge and plans to visit Baltimore as soon as possible. The FBI has stated there is no credible information suggesting terrorism was involved in the incident.