Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed early Tuesday after a column was hit by a large container ship, sending vehicles and people into the Patapsco River.
Holy shit I can’t imagine the sheer terror. One second you’re just doing your normal work commute, the next you just fell a hundred feet into freezing water. Without reacting immediately you’re probably trapped in your car from the water pressure. Shit shit shit
Luckily this happened around 1:30 in the morning, because at rush hour that bridge is bumper to bumper and the death toll would be in the hundreds or even thousands.
I wonder if the death toll from having emergency services having to take a longer, more congested route will be higher than the actual accident. That bridge is the only way to cross the Patapsco south of Baltimore.
I mean, you’re not wrong.
IIRC the hospitals are not spread out in ideal locations for this scenario, and I can’t see Baltimore pulling an infrastructure miracle to compensate for the collapse any time soon.
The traffic effects will be felt from Philadelphia to DC, so I imagine the feds will jump on this pretty quick. I think the biggest problem is that it’s a major bridge and the channel for a major port. Building a bridge without getting in the way of the shipping traffic is going to be complicated.
Luckily the bridge was closed to traffic in both directions at the time, for construction. Unfortunately, the missing people are the construction crew.
The article says several vehicle are in the water, including a tractor trailer rig. There was construction happening, but the bridge was apparently not closed.
Officials said in a news conference that a mayday had been issued before the collision, which allowed officials to stop traffic onto the bridge. Officials did not clarify how many vehicles were on the bridge at the time of the collapse. Infrared video showed that vehicles did enter the water, but it’s not clear if those vehicles had occupants. Multiple vehicles remained in the river as of mid-morning.
So far they’re only saying that members of the construction crew are missing.
Six people remain unaccounted for, Maryland Department of Transportation Secretary Paul Wiedefeld said in a mid-morning news conference. All six were part of a construction crew that was filling potholes on the bridge at the time, Wiedefeld said. Two other workers were rescued from the water.
This is true, if you can hold your breath long enough, against the pressure and the shock of the cold water and the pounding of your heart. I watched that Mythbusters episode too, and I think I’d die.
Holy shit I can’t imagine the sheer terror. One second you’re just doing your normal work commute, the next you just fell a hundred feet into freezing water. Without reacting immediately you’re probably trapped in your car from the water pressure. Shit shit shit
Luckily this happened around 1:30 in the morning, because at rush hour that bridge is bumper to bumper and the death toll would be in the hundreds or even thousands.
This is what I’m thinking.
Its a genuine miracle that this is such a small death toll in a major city like this.
One can hope this raises awareness to fracture critical (iirc the term?) bridges that are vulnerable to catastrophic failures
I wonder if the death toll from having emergency services having to take a longer, more congested route will be higher than the actual accident. That bridge is the only way to cross the Patapsco south of Baltimore.
I mean, you’re not wrong.
IIRC the hospitals are not spread out in ideal locations for this scenario, and I can’t see Baltimore pulling an infrastructure miracle to compensate for the collapse any time soon.
The traffic effects will be felt from Philadelphia to DC, so I imagine the feds will jump on this pretty quick. I think the biggest problem is that it’s a major bridge and the channel for a major port. Building a bridge without getting in the way of the shipping traffic is going to be complicated.
And I’m positive there will be extensive containership proofing upgrades that will complicate the build further.
Shows what I know about Baltimore. How interesting.
Luckily the bridge was closed to traffic in both directions at the time, for construction. Unfortunately, the missing people are the construction crew.
The article says several vehicle are in the water, including a tractor trailer rig. There was construction happening, but the bridge was apparently not closed.
They closed it after the ship’s Mayday call.
So far they’re only saying that members of the construction crew are missing.
Always cross bridges with the window cracked or open, folks!
Yeah, then you can just drown nice and quick in icy water. Still better, since chance of escape or rescue is pretty much nil.
You can open the doors just fine once the cabin fills with water
This is true, if you can hold your breath long enough, against the pressure and the shock of the cold water and the pounding of your heart. I watched that Mythbusters episode too, and I think I’d die.