Baltimore Key Bridge collapse: vehicles fall into water after ship hits bridge
www.theguardian.com
Mayor says rescue efforts are under way after cargo vessel crashed into Francis Scott Key Bridge, sending vehicles into water

A portion of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore has collapsed after a large boat collided with it early on Tuesday morning, sending multiple vehicles into the water.

At about 1.30am, a vessel crashed into the bridge, catching fire before sinking and causing multiple vehicles to fall into the water below, according to a video posted on X.

“All lanes closed both directions for incident on I-695 Key Bridge. Traffic is being detoured,” the Maryland Transportation Authority posted on X.

Matthew West, a petty officer first class for the coastguard in Baltimore, told the New York Times that the coastguard received a report of an impact at 1.27am ET. West said the Dali, a 948ft (29 metres) Singapore-flagged cargo ship, had hit the bridge, which is part of Interstate 695.

      • fine_sandy_bottom@discuss.tchncs.de
        26·
        7 months ago

        Yeah I would expect vehicle occupants to have serious injuries after a fall like that. Water can be plenty “hard” enough to break your back if you hit it with something flat like a car

    • francisfordpoopola@lemmy.worldEnglish
      548·
      7 months ago

      I used to think drowning was the worst until I heard two accounts of people who drowned and were resuscitated. They said it was terribly peaceful. I’m good with it now.

      • fine_sandy_bottom@discuss.tchncs.de
        671·
        7 months ago

        I’ve heard this before but it doesn’t make much sense to me.

        Dying of a stroke in your sleep sounds peaceful.

        Being unable to leave your submerged car because your back is broken, watching freezing water coming in, taking that last breath. Sounds fucking terrifying honestly.

        • CleoTheWizard@lemmy.world
          18·
          7 months ago

          It’s worse than that. People don’t understand what drowning is like at all, it is a terribly unpeaceful way to go. We all tend to think that you run out of air and then suddenly go unconscious but prior to that:

          Water will enter your lungs which, fun fact, really don’t like that and so it is apparently extremely painful. It also triggers an involuntary reaction. You are now conscious on adrenaline, with very painful water in your lungs, and have lost all control of your body. Your body will attempt to flail wildly out of control while you suffer until you lose consciousness from lack of air. All of this happens quickly but probably not as quickly as you want it to given the circumstances.

        • francisfordpoopola@lemmy.worldEnglish
          325·
          7 months ago

          Just anecdotal. I think it was enough to not fear it so much. The recollection is that the bad part is you are fighting to stay alive but when you give in and swallow all of the you get a state of euphoria… so I figure if you’ve got no choice just suck the water in and die happy.

          • glimse@lemmy.world
            33·
            7 months ago

            I sincerely doubt that your lungs filling with water would be “euphoric” considering any water in your lungs feels like burning. Even if the last seconds felt nice, you’re discounting the terrifying minute or two of suffocation and panic.

            That’s like saying getting stabbed in the chest isn’t a bad way to die because the pain sends you into shock and you pass out before dying

          • strawberrysocial@lemmy.worldEnglish
            15·
            7 months ago

            Whatever you tell yourself to help cope with your own anxiety about drowning I guess… I nearly drowned and I can tell you it was not euphoric breathing in water.

        • Ragnarok314159@sopuli.xyz
          3·
          7 months ago

          Not trying to defend him, but there are accounts of people who nearly/drowned in freezing water say they had feelings of warmth and euphoria. It’s likely due to shock setting in long before the drowning panic.

      • LillyPip@lemmy.ca
        3·
        7 months ago

        This wasn’t just drowning, though. This was drowning after likely sustaining significant impact injuries after hitting the water from many dozens of feet in a vehicle that basically belly-flopped, which is the worst way to impact the water. It’s like hitting concrete from that distance. And then panicking because you’re strapped inside your sinking vehicle.

        This was anything but the peaceful drowning scenario you’re referencing that some people have.