This Tuesday, March 26th, tragedy struck the Francis Scott Key Bridge, located in Baltimore, Maryland. A cargo ship by the name of The Dali reported losing power and sent out a mayday moments before hitting one of the bridge’s supports, collapsing the entire bridge within a matter of minutes. Luckily, the warning from the ship allowed authorities to limit the cars on the bridge, and since the accident occurred at 1:30 am, the traffic was very minimal. At the time, 8 construction workers were filling potholes on the bridge. Now, two of them have been rescued, 2 confirmed dead, and 4 still missing, presumed to be dead. At the time, The Dali was carrying “56 containers holding 764 tons of hazardous materials, mostly corrosive and flammable liquids and lithium ion batteries” (Washington Post). Officials are currently working to contain any possible leaks or spills that originated from The Dali. Unfortunately, Maryland’s crab fishing season typically starts in very early April, and some fishers may be affected by the boating restrictions near the wreckage site.
Clay Stauffer