A massive search effort was underway Tuesday for six construction workers who were on the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore when it was struck by a large cargo vessel and collapsed into the Patapsco River, shutting down a critical artery for East Coast shipping, authorities said.
Around 1:30 a.m. a vessel leaving the Port of Baltimore struck the Key Bridge, causing it to collapse in a matter of seconds. Officials said the crew warned of a power issue and sent out a "mayday" before the collision. Footage of the incident shows the cargo ship smash into one of the columns before the bridge snapped, hit the water and partially fell on the ship, where a burst of flames and smoke could be seen rising into the night sky.
Several vehicles were on the bridge at the time of impact and were plunged into the Patapsco River, which was measured Tuesday at temperatures cold enough to cause hypothermia. There were also multiple contractors on the bridge who were repairing potholes, said Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul Wiedefeld. So far two people have been rescued. One was unharmed and the other remains in "very serious condition," he said.