In the early hours of Tuesday, a catastrophic event was narrowly prevented in Baltimore, thanks to the heroic actions of local police officers.
In just seconds, two cops managed to block all traffic on the Francis Scott Key Bridge before a massive container ship collided with it, causing the bridge to totally collapse into the river.
The officer's quick thinking and decisive response prevented any vehicles from being on the bridge at the time of the collision, saving numerous lives.
The tragic incident occurred in the early hours of Tuesday, around 1:30 a.m.
Emergency dispatchers alerted the officers about an approaching ship that had lost its steering.
Luckily, two officers who presented nearby immediately responded to the call and positioned themselves at either end of the 1.6-mile bridge.
"Stop all traffic on the Key Bridge," an emergency dispatcher shouted.
“There’s a ship coming and losing their steering.”
At that time, their mission was clear: stop all traffic and prevent any vehicles from trying to cross the bridge.
As the officers took their positions, the 130,000-ton Dali cargo vessel, apparently experiencing a loss of power, careened out of control towards the bridge.
The officers noticed that a crew repairing a pothole on the bridge was still present, unaware of the imminent danger. However, there was no time to warn them.
How hero cops stopped drivers just seconds before the Dali ship crashed into Baltimore Bridge
Tragically, within seconds, the Dali collided with a support beam in the middle of the Patapsco River, causing the entire bridge to collapse.
Eight workers were thrown into the frigid waters below. One can only imagine the horror and chaos that unfolded in those critical moments.
The police officers, witnessing the bridge's collapse, immediately radioed in the devastating news.
“The bridge has collapsed!” an officer shouted.
Their urgent cries echoed through the airwaves, alerting their colleagues to the catastrophic event.
Fortunately, they had successfully stopped all traffic just in time, preventing any vehicles from being on the bridge when it smashed.
The collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge took approximately 90 seconds from the initial distress call by the Dali crew.
It was a race against time, and the officers' swift action and decisive response played a crucial role in minimizing the potential loss of life.
The brave and quick actions of the cops saved many lives at night
Maryland Governor Wes Moore praised the officers for their heroic efforts, emphasizing that they had undoubtedly saved numerous lives that night.
In the face of this devastating incident, the actions of the Baltimore police officers stand as a shining example of bravery and heroism.
Their quick response and ability to halt traffic on the bridge with mere seconds to spare prevented what could have been an even greater tragedy.
Six construction workers were found dead in Baltimore Bridge collapse
A subsequent review by Maryland transportation officials confirmed that no vehicles were driving on the bridge at the time of the incident.
However, the aftermath of the bridge collapse still challenges authorities. Search and rescue operations were immediately initiated to find the six missing workers.
According to the latest reports, at least two people were pulled from the water.
Rear Admiral Shannon Gilreath shared a sad reality, acknowledging the long time that has passed since the bridge fell and the freezing water temperatures.
With these conditions, it is unlikely that any of the individuals will be found alive.
The rescue team's divers are now concentrating on finding the bodies of the missing workers.
Unfortunately, the next day, the U.S. Coast Guard found the six dead bodies which were confirmed construction workers missing after the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse.
What caused the collision between the Dali container ship and the Francis Scott Key Bridge?
The MV Dali, a Singapore-flagged container ship, had experienced a loss of propulsion as it departed from the Port of Baltimore.
Crew members had alerted officials about the possibility of a collision beforehand. The ship's lights flickered on and off, and black smoke billowed from its chimney before the devastating impact.
The ship, initially heading to Colombo, Sri Lanka, encountered trouble as it emitted dark smoke into the sky.
It lost power again and suddenly turned towards one of the tall pillars holding up the 180-foot bridge.
When the ship crashed into the structure, it appeared to lose power once more.
Finally, the bridge dramatically collapsed, first breaking near the support and then in the middle, leaving the eastern pillar unstable.
Authorities are investigating to find out the cause of the tragic accident
The incident prompted Maryland Governor Moore to declare a state of emergency, as authorities, including the US Coast Guard and law enforcement agencies, intensified search efforts.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) also launched an investigation into the cause of the collision, with a team of 24 investigators on-site.
They will examine data from the Dali as well as the safety record and background of the bridge to determine the sequence of events leading to the collapse.
The huge setback after the tragic bridge collapse
The destruction of the Francis Scott Key Bridge poses significant challenges for Baltimore.
The bridge, which facilitated the daily passage of approximately 35,000 vehicles, now lies in ruins.
Governor Moore and Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg acknowledged the arduous road to recovery that lies ahead.
