A large boat collided with Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge early Tuesday morning, causing part of the bridge to collapse and several cars to fall into the water. Authorities are trying to rescue at least seven people.
According to a video posted on X (formerly Twitter), a large vessel hit the bridge, caught fire and sank, sending multiple vehicles into the Patapsco River.
“Due to an incident on the I-695 Key Bridge, all lanes are closed in both directions. Traffic is being detoured,” the Maryland Transportation Authority said at X.
Mayor Brandon M. Scott and Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski Jr. posted that emergency personnel were responding and rescue efforts were underway.
Baltimore Fire Department communications director Kevin Cartwright told The Associated Press around 3 a.m. that emergency crews were searching for at least seven people believed to have fallen into the water.
He said agencies received a 911 call around 1:30 a.m. reporting that a vessel out of Baltimore struck a pillar on the bridge, causing it to collapse. Several vehicles were parked on the bridge at the time, including a vehicle the size of a tractor-trailer.
“Our focus right now is on trying to rescue and rehabilitate these individuals,” Cartwright said. He said it was too early to know how many people were affected, but called the collapse “a mass casualty event in progress.” .
Cartwright said there appeared to be “some cargo or fixtures dangling from the bridge” creating an unsafe and unstable situation, so emergency crews were proceeding with caution.
“This is a terrible emergency,” he said.
The Francis Scott Key Bridge opened in 1977.
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