BALTIMORE — At least six people are presumed to be dead after a large cargo ship lost power and collided with the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore early Tuesday morning.
A spokesperson for construction company Brawner Builders said a crew of construction workers were working in the middle span of the bridge when it collapsed. At least six are thought to be dead because of how deep the water is and because of how long it's been since the collapse.
The Coast Guard said it had moved to a recovery operation as they do not believe the missing people could still be alive.
Two members of the construction crew were pulled out of the water on Tuesday, Baltimore fire officials say. One one taken to the hospital and the other was okay and refused treatment, officials added.
WATCH: Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore collapses
The collision caused the bridge to collapse into the Patapsco River, our sister station WMAR 2 News in Baltimore reported.
The ship, named DALI, was carrying cargo for the Danish-based company, Maersk, from Singapore to Colombo, Sri Lanka, according to the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.
A preliminary investigation revealed the 948-foot vessel lost power and struck a bridge support beam causing its collapse.
At the time of the crash, the bridge was undergoing construction, causing several workers to fall into the water.
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Scanner traffic offered a glimpse of what happened in the moments leading up to the collapse.
"There's a ship approaching that just lost its steering."
"If we can stop traffic, make sure no one's on the bridge right now...if there's a crew up there you might want to notify the foreman."
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said a mayday call from the ship allowed officials to limit traffic on the bridge before the crash, The Associated Press reported.
Maryland Transportation officials later confirmed no cars were traveling on the bridge during the collision, clearing up original reports suggesting otherwise.
WATCH: Gov. Wes Moore holds press conference after Key Bridge collapse
National News
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All 22 crew members aboard the ship, including the pilot, have been accounted for with no major injuries reported.
"The pilot is currently undergoing post-accident Drug and Alcohol Testing," the Department of Homeland Security said in a release.
Information from the U.S. Department of Transporation Federal Highway Administration shows the Francis Scott Key Bridge met acceptable standards, and the deck superstructure and substructure were in "satisfactory condition" as of 2021. An estimated 11.5 million vehicles pass over the bridge annually.
WATCH: 2 people pulled out of the water following Baltimore bridge collapse
The four-lane bridge was about 1.5 miles long. It spanned the Patapsco River as part of I-695, which is south of downtown Baltimore.
The ship is owned by Grace Ocean Private Ltd., and operated by Synergy Group. It was carrying 4,679 twenty-foot equivalent unit containers, totaling 116,851 pounds of dead weight.
DALI has two past deficiencies documented with the Coast Guard, one in June 2023 and the other from July 2016.
The latest report mentioned propulsion and auxiliary machinery, including gauges and thermometers.
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In 2016 structural conditions were noted, including hull damage which was said to have impaired "seaworthiness."
All travel lanes in both directions of I-695 leading to the bridge have been shut down indefinitely.
The State Highway Administration has implemented traffic detours.
WATCH: President Biden holds press conference following collapse of Key Bridge
Maryland Governor Wes Moore and Baltimore City Mayor Brandon Scott have each declared a 30-day State of Emergency, making way for quicker access to funding and resources.
President Joe Biden has been briefed on the situation as well, releasing this statement.
"This morning, I convened senior members of my team for a briefing on the collapse of Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge," said the President. "I've directed my Administration to ensure every federal resource is available to assist search and rescue efforts and response to this terrible incident."
Around 6 a.m., Gov. Moore shared the following on X, formerly known as Twitter:
My office is in close communication with U.S. Transportation @SecretaryPete Buttigieg, Baltimore @MayorBMScott, @BaltCoExec, and @BaltimoreFire as emergency personnel are on the scene following the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge.
— Governor Wes Moore (@GovWesMoore) March 26, 2024
This is a developing story. Stay with News 3 for updates.
