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Harrowing Audio Captures Officers Racing Against Time To Seal Traffic Before Baltimore Bridge Collapse
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Harrowing Audio Captures Officers Racing Against Time To Seal Traffic Before Baltimore Bridge Collapse

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The U.S. law enforcement had less than two minutes to stop traffic before a container ship crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Maryland, radio archives and dispatch calls surrounding the collapse reveal.

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The most important call came from the Dali cargo ship itself, moments before the 985-foot-long vessel struck one of the 1.6-mile-long bridge’s supports. The impact caused the bridge’s span to break and tumble into Baltimore’s Patapsco River, sending parts of the bridge into the river.

Prior to the crash, Dali made the mayday call on Tuesday morning and raised the alarm about losing power as it charged down the river. The call pushed law enforcement officers to quickly react and seal off traffic on the bridge.

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The Francis Scott Key Bridge in Maryland collapsed after being struck by a 985-foot-long ship

Image credits: HaywerdJablomi

Despite having less than two minutes, the officers acted swiftly and managed to prevent further casualties.

“I need one of you guys on the south side, one of you guys on the north side. Hold all traffic on the key bridge,” one officer told his colleagues around 1:27 a.m.

“There’s a ship approaching that’s just lost their steering,” the officer added.

Two other officers responded and followed instructions, after which one officer mentioned that there was a crew of eight construction workers working on the bridge to fix potholes at the time.

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Dispatch calls from Tuesday morning revealed the panic that unfolded among officers during the collapse

Image credits: Rob Carr/Getty Images

“Is there a crew working on the bridge right now?” he asked.

The first officer, who issued the initial orders, informed his team around 1:28 a.m. to find the crew and “get them off the bridge temporarily.”

An officer, occupied with stopping traffic, responded that he was waiting for a colleague to take over so he could make his way down the lane and “grab the workers on the key bridge.”

However, the tense situation saw another urgent message come through within about 10 seconds.

“C-13 dispatch! The whole bridge just fell down!” an officer said. “Star- whoever, everybody, the whole bridge just collapsed.”

“Do we know if all traffic is stopped?” the first officer asked.

“The whole bridge just fell down!” an officer was heard saying

Image credits: Daily Mail

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“I can’t get to the other side, sir, the bridge is down,” the officer responded about half a minute later.

“10-4, all traffic on the key bridge is down, we got workers in the water,” an officer said at 1:30 a.m., about two minutes after the Dali crashed into the bridge.

The collapse sent six of the construction workers into the water, and the men are presumed dead, officials later said.

Maryland Governor Wes Moore praised the crew aboard the ship for making the mayday call that alerted officers to quickly seal traffic on the bridge

Image credits: WBFF FOX45 Baltimore

After an extensive search effort that yielded no signs of survivors, the U.S. Coast Guard announced the suspension of its search and rescue operations for the six individuals who went missing following the collapse.

Maryland Governor Wes Moore called the people aboard the ship “heroes” for issuing the mayday call that alerted authorities to stop traffic on the bridge.

“These people are heroes,” the governor said. “They saved lives last night.”

People online were saddened by the tragic news of six crew members going missing

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Binitha Jacob

Binitha Jacob

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Working as a writer for Bored Panda offers an added layer of excitement. By afternoon, I'm fully immersed in the whirlwind of celebrity drama, and by evening, I'm navigating through the bustling universe of likes, shares, and clicks. This role not only allows me to delve into the fascinating world of pop culture but also lets me do what I love: weave words together and tell other people's captivating stories to the world

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Binitha Jacob

Binitha Jacob

Writer, BoredPanda staff

Working as a writer for Bored Panda offers an added layer of excitement. By afternoon, I'm fully immersed in the whirlwind of celebrity drama, and by evening, I'm navigating through the bustling universe of likes, shares, and clicks. This role not only allows me to delve into the fascinating world of pop culture but also lets me do what I love: weave words together and tell other people's captivating stories to the world

Karina Babenok

Karina Babenok

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As a visual editor in the News team, I look for the most interesting pictures and comments to make each post interesting and informative through images, so that you aren't reading only blocks of text. I joined Bored Panda not that long ago, but in this short amount of time I have covered a wide range of topics: from true crime to Taylor Swift memes (my search history is very questionable because of that).In my freetime, I enjoy spending time at the gym, gaming, binging Great British Bake Off and adding yet another tattoo artist that I would love to get a tattoo from to my pinterest board.

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Karina Babenok

Karina Babenok

Author, BoredPanda staff

As a visual editor in the News team, I look for the most interesting pictures and comments to make each post interesting and informative through images, so that you aren't reading only blocks of text. I joined Bored Panda not that long ago, but in this short amount of time I have covered a wide range of topics: from true crime to Taylor Swift memes (my search history is very questionable because of that).In my freetime, I enjoy spending time at the gym, gaming, binging Great British Bake Off and adding yet another tattoo artist that I would love to get a tattoo from to my pinterest board.

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Major Harris
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

well done officers. you saved MANY lives by your quick response. comfort to the families of those roadworkers.

nm (he/him)
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

North of the fallen bridge there are columns of electric power cables. These columns are protected/buttressed by some kind of artificial island. Unfortunately no similar protection for the bridge itself exists. An accident programmed to happen.

Major Harris
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

well done officers. you saved MANY lives by your quick response. comfort to the families of those roadworkers.

nm (he/him)
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

North of the fallen bridge there are columns of electric power cables. These columns are protected/buttressed by some kind of artificial island. Unfortunately no similar protection for the bridge itself exists. An accident programmed to happen.

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