The following is from Wikipedia:

The main spans of the bridge were destroyed on March 26, 2024, when the container ship MV Dali crashed into one of its support pillars.^[7]

That was a fast update.

It doesn’t reflect, though, the hardships ahead for the families of 6 missing men who were working on the span patching potholes caused by winter weather. Nor does it say anything about the traffic disaster that the closing of this main artery of I-695, the “beltway” around Baltimore City, is causing. Traffic will be so severely affected that it is impossible to fathom.

This says nothing, either, about the shutdown of the critical marine terminals and massive amounts of cargo they handle. Once the wreckage has been cleared, ships will again be free to enter the port, but the bridge was a steel arch type that will be challenging to clear from the channel. Parts of the structure remain above water but end underwater: one end in, and one end out of the main channel. It is a shocking sight.

There’s little here to point to as blame. The container ship lost power and did issue a mayday call, enabling the county and toll facilities police to close all approaching highway traffic. Lives were undoubtedly saved in this way.

The search continues for the 6 missing workers by the US Coast Guard, a zone of no entry by marine craft or aircraft has been established, the governor and Transportation Secretary Buttigieg, Senator Ben Cardin and President Biden have been working on this situation since it happened at around 01:30 this morning. It is a serious matter, and they are fully aware and dedicated to their work.

From Guardian News on YouTube, here is the moment of impact and collapse. Both are within seconds of each other, and I warn you, the video may cause you shock and distress.

Credit: Guardian News, an organization I implicitly trust.

Please pray for the families and the missing, and for the men and women who will be tasked with solving this daunting challenge.