The cargo ship that lost power and crashed into a bridge in Baltimore underwent “routine engine maintenance” in port beforehand, the U.S. Coast Guard said Wednesday, as divers recovered the bodies of two of six workers who plunged into the water when it collapsed. The others were presumed dead, and officials said search efforts had been exhausted.
Investigators began collecting evidence from the vessel a day after it struck the Francis Scott Key Bridge. The bodies of the two men were located in the morning inside a red pickup submerged in about 25 feet (7.6 meters) of water near the bridge’s middle span, Col. Roland L. Butler Jr., superintendent of Maryland State Police, announced at an evening news conference.
My understanding was that the authorities at least realized they needed to contact them, but there was only about 2 minutes between the distress call and the impact, so I’m not sure they could have escaped even if they were notified.
I keep seeing reports that there were other vehicles on the bridge, but nothing about the occupants. I don’t know if they mean other work vehicles though.
ETA: It looks like they might not gave had direct radio contact with the work crew, and one of the police officers was going to drice to them, but the bridge collapsed before they could: story
People can haul ass when their lives are in danger.
Unless they were in harnesses or something, they might have had a chance to at least make it towards the nearest shore.
I find it hard to believe that their company had no way of reaching them while they were on a job.
The company certainly would have had a way to contact them, but it seems the port authorities didn’t. They were also working ‘in the middle’ of the bridge, so could have been a mile or more from safety. Given the timing of the distress call, even if they’d been notified instantly I don’t think they had much of a chance unfortunately.