Construction Crew Caught on Collapsing Baltimore Bridge Presumed Dead
Authorities are ending a search-and-rescue mission for six contractors who they believe were plunged into the icy cold waters of the Patapsco River early Tuesday morning when a container ship lost power and slammed into a pillar supporting Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge.
“Based on the length of time that we have gone in this search, the extensive search efforts that we have put into it, the water temperature, at this point we do not believe that we’re going to find any of these individuals still alive,” Coast Guard Rear Admiral Shannon Gilreath said at a press conference Tuesday evening.
He added that the decision was simply an administrative one meant to allow the agency more freedom in tackling the unique challenges presented by cold weather, a rapidly approaching storm, and debris-laden waters with structures that could collapse at any moment.