A tragic incident unfolded in Baltimore early Tuesday morning as the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed after being struck by a massive container ship, the Dali. The impact caused parts of the bridge to crumble, sending vehicles and people into the Patapsco River below. Seven construction workers and an inspector were on the bridge at the time of the collapse, with two individuals rescued from the water shortly after. Divers later found a red pickup truck submerged in the water with two victims inside, while four other workers remain missing and are presumed dead.

The National Transportation Safety Board is conducting an investigation to determine the sequence of events leading up to the crash. The Dali, which was leaving the Port of Baltimore, experienced a complete blackout that resulted in a loss of power to the engine and navigation equipment. The ship issued a mayday call before colliding with a critical component of the bridge, known as a pylon or pier. Governor Wes Moore and the F.B.I. have stated that there is no evidence of a terrorist attack.

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore reported that the DALI lost propulsion just prior to the incident, leading to the collision with the bridge. The ship's crew had attempted to deploy the anchor as part of their emergency protocol but were unable to avoid the crash. The ship was moving at about 8 knots, which officials described as a rapid speed for that area.

The collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge has raised questions about the safety of the structure, which had received a fair rating of six out of nine during its latest federal inspection. Concerns had been raised about one of the bridge's columns during the inspection in May 2022. The NTSB is working to piece together the events that led to this tragic accident, while a search and rescue operation continues in the waters below the collapsed bridge.