Key bridge in Baltimore collapses after cargo ship crashes into it

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:From the Washington Post - sounds like the ship was able to let authorities know in time to stop cars from driving over the bridge. You can see on the video that a previous poster linked that there were several cars/trucks going by a few minutes before the collapse, but nothing visible immediately preceding the collapse.

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said the Dali lost power and issued an emergency call for help shortly before the freighter crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge, causing it to collapse.

The “mayday” distress call allowed officials to halt vehicle traffic headed over the bridge, Moore (D) said.

“By being able to stop cars from coming over the bridge, these people are heroes. They saved lives,” he said.

It was not immediately clear how many vehicles were on the bridge at the time of the collapse. Search and rescue efforts continue.

PP here who lives on ESMD (Eastern shore of Maryland, QAC). Apparently MTA was able to close bridge right before collision which is why on video you suddenly don’t see any more vehicular traffic. All of the people who fell into the water (those that were rescued and those they’re still looking for) are believed to be with the construction crew that was still on the bridge repairing potholes. The bridge is over a mile long and they were on the middle so perhaps there wasn’t enough time to warn them and for them to run 1/2 mile in either direction. Not sure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:From the Washington Post - sounds like the ship was able to let authorities know in time to stop cars from driving over the bridge. You can see on the video that a previous poster linked that there were several cars/trucks going by a few minutes before the collapse, but nothing visible immediately preceding the collapse.

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said the Dali lost power and issued an emergency call for help shortly before the freighter crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge, causing it to collapse.

The “mayday” distress call allowed officials to halt vehicle traffic headed over the bridge, Moore (D) said.

“By being able to stop cars from coming over the bridge, these people are heroes. They saved lives,” he said.

It was not immediately clear how many vehicles were on the bridge at the time of the collapse. Search and rescue efforts continue.

That is a relief

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would swim away

Huh?

I did the Bay Bridge swim but started on the beach. Half way through I turned on my back and looked up at the bridge - boy, was it high. Hitting the water from that height would be like hitting concrete.

So many factors would impede you from swimming: force of impact onto water in your vehicle (like hitting concrete), injuries sustained upon impact including loss of consciousness, the force of suction pulling your car underwater, inability to escape from vehicle, injured by debris once in the water (eg. you managed to escape vehicle 20-30 feet below water, but there's no light/visibility, and you keep hitting steel beams as you try to ascend to the surface or even get pinned underwater by sinking debris), etc.

Vast majority of people would not survive this bridge collapse. I'm so curious about the person who survived with no injuries! Luckiest person alive, tbh. I bet it's someone young and healthy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would swim away

Huh?

I did the Bay Bridge swim but started on the beach. Half way through I turned on my back and looked up at the bridge - boy, was it high. Hitting the water from that height would be like hitting concrete.

So many factors would impede you from swimming: force of impact onto water in your vehicle (like hitting concrete), injuries sustained upon impact including loss of consciousness, the force of suction pulling your car underwater, inability to escape from vehicle, injured by debris once in the water (eg. you managed to escape vehicle 20-30 feet below water, but there's no light/visibility, and you keep hitting steel beams as you try to ascend to the surface or even get pinned underwater by sinking debris), etc.

Vast majority of people would not survive this bridge collapse. I'm so curious about the person who survived with no injuries! Luckiest person alive, tbh. I bet it's someone young and healthy.

Makes me think of the movie Unbreakable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would swim away

Huh?

I did the Bay Bridge swim but started on the beach. Half way through I turned on my back and looked up at the bridge - boy, was it high. Hitting the water from that height would be like hitting concrete.

So many factors would impede you from swimming: force of impact onto water in your vehicle (like hitting concrete), injuries sustained upon impact including loss of consciousness, the force of suction pulling your car underwater, inability to escape from vehicle, injured by debris once in the water (eg. you managed to escape vehicle 20-30 feet below water, but there's no light/visibility, and you keep hitting steel beams as you try to ascend to the surface or even get pinned underwater by sinking debris), etc.

Vast majority of people would not survive this bridge collapse. I'm so curious about the person who survived with no injuries! Luckiest person alive, tbh. I bet it's someone young and healthy.

I've read more about that. I think it was a construction worker. He was examined too and found no injuries but he was adamant that he refused transport to the hospital. Sadly reading between the lines I think he must have been an illegal immigrant and didn't want to get involved with authorities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would swim away

Huh?

I did the Bay Bridge swim but started on the beach. Half way through I turned on my back and looked up at the bridge - boy, was it high. Hitting the water from that height would be like hitting concrete.

+1 My dad and I talked about this when we did the Bay Bridge walk. From the high parts it’s the fall that might kill you even before you hit the water which can definitely kill you.

I remember like 20 years ago a college student was driving across the Bay Bridge when her car was pushed off by a semi. She survived the fall, in her car, was able to get out of her car and swam all the way to shore (not sure where she was when she went over but that bridge is 5+ miles long). Reports said this was insanely rare and probably because she was a division 1 athlete that she was able to do all of this but it has happened.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There will be massive supply side shocks to the US economy from the this.

“The worst thing that can happen for the Fed, the worst thing that can happen for the economy, are these kinds of supply side shocks because what they do is they reduce the productive capacity of the US economy boost inflation at the same time.”

A shipping analyst warns that the bridge collapse threatens to hamper already-strained global trade flows. “Freight services have already been impacted by drought in the Panama Canal & recent conflict in the Red Sea...This latest incident will add to those concerns.”

There will be a herculean effort to re-open the shipping channel directed by the Feds. It's closed for two weeks tops. Just watch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There will be massive supply side shocks to the US economy from the this.

“The worst thing that can happen for the Fed, the worst thing that can happen for the economy, are these kinds of supply side shocks because what they do is they reduce the productive capacity of the US economy boost inflation at the same time.”

A shipping analyst warns that the bridge collapse threatens to hamper already-strained global trade flows. “Freight services have already been impacted by drought in the Panama Canal & recent conflict in the Red Sea...This latest incident will add to those concerns.”

+1

Surprised people are not talking about this

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would swim away

Huh?

I did the Bay Bridge swim but started on the beach. Half way through I turned on my back and looked up at the bridge - boy, was it high. Hitting the water from that height would be like hitting concrete.

+1 My dad and I talked about this when we did the Bay Bridge walk. From the high parts it’s the fall that might kill you even before you hit the water which can definitely kill you.

I remember like 20 years ago a college student was driving across the Bay Bridge when her car was pushed off by a semi. She survived the fall, in her car, was able to get out of her car and swam all the way to shore (not sure where she was when she went over but that bridge is 5+ miles long). Reports said this was insanely rare and probably because she was a division 1 athlete that she was able to do all of this but it has happened.

Someone posted about that. It was from the ramp end, not the middle - about 23 feet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would swim away

Huh?

I did the Bay Bridge swim but started on the beach. Half way through I turned on my back and looked up at the bridge - boy, was it high. Hitting the water from that height would be like hitting concrete.

So many factors would impede you from swimming: force of impact onto water in your vehicle (like hitting concrete), injuries sustained upon impact including loss of consciousness, the force of suction pulling your car underwater, inability to escape from vehicle, injured by debris once in the water (eg. you managed to escape vehicle 20-30 feet below water, but there's no light/visibility, and you keep hitting steel beams as you try to ascend to the surface or even get pinned underwater by sinking debris), etc.

Vast majority of people would not survive this bridge collapse. I'm so curious about the person who survived with no injuries! Luckiest person alive, tbh. I bet it's someone young and healthy.

It may not have been a motorist. It may have been one of construction or repair workers on the bridge at that time, who may have been hanging on to or harnessed to something, or on a part of the bridge scaffolding that was lower. Workers are also usually young and strong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There will be massive supply side shocks to the US economy from the this.

“The worst thing that can happen for the Fed, the worst thing that can happen for the economy, are these kinds of supply side shocks because what they do is they reduce the productive capacity of the US economy boost inflation at the same time.”

A shipping analyst warns that the bridge collapse threatens to hamper already-strained global trade flows. “Freight services have already been impacted by drought in the Panama Canal & recent conflict in the Red Sea...This latest incident will add to those concerns.”

There will be a herculean effort to re-open the shipping channel directed by the Feds. It's closed for two weeks tops. Just watch.

+1

I would be surprised if the shipping channel is closed even for two weeks.

It will take longer to rebuild the bridge - but the port will reopen very quickly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would swim away

Huh?

I did the Bay Bridge swim but started on the beach. Half way through I turned on my back and looked up at the bridge - boy, was it high. Hitting the water from that height would be like hitting concrete.

+1 My dad and I talked about this when we did the Bay Bridge walk. From the high parts it’s the fall that might kill you even before you hit the water which can definitely kill you.

I remember like 20 years ago a college student was driving across the Bay Bridge when her car was pushed off by a semi. She survived the fall, in her car, was able to get out of her car and swam all the way to shore (not sure where she was when she went over but that bridge is 5+ miles long). Reports said this was insanely rare and probably because she was a division 1 athlete that she was able to do all of this but it has happened.

Someone posted about that. It was from the ramp end, not the middle - about 23 feet.

And also much closer swim to shore.

[Anonymous]

Oh no, we may not get our Amazon packages…heaven forbid.

This is so sad and scary. It’s amazing someone survived unscathed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would swim away

Huh?

I did the Bay Bridge swim but started on the beach. Half way through I turned on my back and looked up at the bridge - boy, was it high. Hitting the water from that height would be like hitting concrete.

So many factors would impede you from swimming: force of impact onto water in your vehicle (like hitting concrete), injuries sustained upon impact including loss of consciousness, the force of suction pulling your car underwater, inability to escape from vehicle, injured by debris once in the water (eg. you managed to escape vehicle 20-30 feet below water, but there's no light/visibility, and you keep hitting steel beams as you try to ascend to the surface or even get pinned underwater by sinking debris), etc.

Vast majority of people would not survive this bridge collapse. I'm so curious about the person who survived with no injuries! Luckiest person alive, tbh. I bet it's someone young and healthy.

I've read more about that. I think it was a construction worker. He was examined too and found no injuries but he was adamant that he refused transport to the hospital. Sadly reading between the lines I think he must have been an illegal immigrant and didn't want to get involved with authorities.

Or he’s poor and he knows how much ambulance transfers and emergency room visits cost.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There will be massive supply side shocks to the US economy from the this.

“The worst thing that can happen for the Fed, the worst thing that can happen for the economy, are these kinds of supply side shocks because what they do is they reduce the productive capacity of the US economy boost inflation at the same time.”

A shipping analyst warns that the bridge collapse threatens to hamper already-strained global trade flows. “Freight services have already been impacted by drought in the Panama Canal & recent conflict in the Red Sea...This latest incident will add to those concerns.”

There will be a herculean effort to re-open the shipping channel directed by the Feds. It's closed for two weeks tops. Just watch.

Yes, I think this is right.
Replacing the bridge will take years, but clearing the harbor and shipping channel will be everyone's #1 priority right now.