Major bridge in Baltimore collapses after being struck by ship

The
Francis
Scott
Key
Bridge
partially
collapsed
in
the
early
hours
of
Tuesday
morning
following
a
ship
collision,
local
authorities
said.

The
incident
took
place
at
1:35
a.m.
local
time
on
Tuesday,
and
workers
may
have
fallen
into
water,
according
to
a
Baltimore
City
police
spokesperson.

“I-695
Key
Bridge
collapse
due
to
ship
strike.
Active
scene,”
the
Maryland
Transportation
Authority

said
on
social
media.

A
large
container
ship
hit
the
bridge
overnight,
and
there
appeared
to
be
personnel
on
the
crossing
at
the
time
of
the
incident,
Baltimore
Fire
Department
Battalion
Chief
Glenn
Kukucka
told
CNBC
by
phone.
He
added
that
the
vessel
involved
in
the
collision
appeared
to
have
sustained
damage.

The
Francis
Scott
Key
Bridge
carries
Route
695
across
the
Patapsco
River,
southeast
of
the
Baltimore
metropolitan
area.

The
U.S.
Coast
Guard
did
not
immediately
respond
to
a
CNBC
request
for
comment.

“I’m
aware
of
and
en
route
to
the
incident
at
the
Key
Bridge.
I
have
been
in
contact
with

@BaltimoreFire
Chief
Wallace,

@GovWesMoore

@JohnnyOJr,
and

@AACoExec.
Emergency
personnel
are
on
scene,
and
efforts
are
underway,”
said
Baltimore
Mayor
Brandon
M.
Scott

on
social
media.

Correction:
This
article
has
been
updated
to
reflect
that
the
Francis
Scott
Key
Bridge
crosses
the
Patapsco
River.