Heroes save drivers as bridge collapses

A BODY was discovered during frantic efforts last night to find six men who plunged into a river when a container ship rammed into a bridge and caused it to collapse.

- Christopher Bucktin

Officials praised the quick-thinking boat crew for averting further loss of life by issuing a mayday call as their cargo vessel sped out of control in Baltimore.

It enabled the Key Bridge to be blocked to further traffic.

Maryland Governor Wes Moore said: "These people are heroes. They saved lives last night."

But at least one fatality has been reported. Baltimore City Council member Phylicia Porter said: "We are hearing a body was found." 

And rescuers using sonar equipment had detected vehicles in the water, which is about 50 feet deep, sparking fears more lives could have been lost. Harrowing footage captured the moment the fully laden  container vessel lost power and veered into one of the supports on Key Bridge, causing the structure to collapse like a toy.

It sent a road crew repairing potholes on the 185ft high bridge plummeting into the water.

Several vehicles were on the bridge at the time of the collapse, including one the size of a tractor-trailer truck, said Kevin Cartwright, director of communications for the Baltimore Fire Department.

Only the fact that the ship issued a mayday call and more vehicles were prevented from crossing the bridge prevented a far greater loss of life.

Rescuers pulled out two people and one was taken to hospital state's Paul Wiedefeld, the transportation secretary, confirmed the six people still unaccounted for were part of a construction gang.

US President Joe Biden has promised he will visit the city in Maryland "as soon as possible".