CBS News
A timeline of the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse
Around 1:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed when a cargo ship lost power and crashed into it. Officials were able to prevent cars from driving onto the bridge just before the accident, but eight construction workers remained on the structure and plummeted into the river below. Here’s how the events unfolded.
About 12:45 a.m.
The Dali, a Singaporean-flagged cargo ship, leaves the dock in Baltimore, moving through the Patapsco River.
Tug boats, which are routinely used at the Port of Baltimore to help get vehicles out of the docking station, were already cut loose when the Dali’s pilots and crew lost control of the ship. Ships are not required to have escorts through the bridge.
About 12:56 a.m.
The boat begins to make a big arc, turning toward the Francis Scott Key Bridge.
About 1:25 a.m.
The ship reaches its max speed and then loses power one minute later at 1:26 a.m. The crew on board makes a mayday call, saying a collision might be possible.
Baltimore County Executive John Olszewski said there were roughly two minutes between Dali’s mayday call to authorities and the bridge collapsing.
The crew made an effort to deploy the anchor, but it remains unclear how much progress was made, officials said.
“If it lost steering and power, then basically it’s a dead ship just being carried by the current or its own momentum,” James Mercante, the president of the New York Board of Pilot Commissioners, told CBS News.
“It would take quite a while — probably the length of five [or] six football fields — to bring that ship to a stop, even after dropping the anchors, because of its power and momentum. This is a behemoth,” Mercante said.
1:27 a.m.
After receiving the mayday call from the Dali, officials ask police to block traffic on either side of the bridge, 911 records show. “There’s a ship approaching that just lost all their steering,” the dispatcher says. “So until you get that under control, we got to stop all traffic.”
Two emergency responders say thay have each stopped traffic on the north and south sides of the bridge.
1:28 a.m.
The 911 records show concern was raised for a crew working on the bridge. “I’m not sure if there’s a crew up there, you might want to notify whoever the foreman is, see if we can get them off the bridge temporarily,” someone on the call says.
1:29 a.m.
The boat starts to lose speed at around 1:29 a.m. and soon, it hits a column holding up the bridge.
Someone on the 911 call alerts the dispatcher that the whole bridge has collapsed. Emergency responders from Maryland Transportation Authority Police confirm they have held all traffic from entering the bridge.
Tuesday morning
After the collapse, a search and rescue effort begins for the eight construction workers who were on the bridge. They worked for Brawner Builders and were filling potholes on the bridge.
Several agencies, including the FBI, sent dive teams into the water for the search.
The FBI also announced that there is “no specific or credible information to suggest there are ties to terrorism in this incident.”
NTSB chair Jennifer Homendy the agency is leading the investigation, but focus remains on the people and families, saying “the rest can wait” and there wasn’t a lot of information she could share at the time.
10 a.m.
Maryland Department of Transportation Secretary Paul J. Wiedefeld announced in a news conference that two of the construction workers were recovered.
One was unhurt and the other was treated at University of Maryland Medical Center and has been discharged, according to CBS Baltimore.
Around 3:30 p.m.
At a news conference, Maryland Governor Wes Moore says the search and rescue operation was still underway.
Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg says the administration will work with NTSB and the Coast Guard on the investigation into what happened and reiterated what President Biden said at an earlier news conference: the federal government will provide all the support needed to fix the bridge.
7:30 p.m.
Search and rescue operations were suspended and officials transitioned to recovery efforts, with six of the construction workers still missing and presumed dead.
The men, all in their 30s and 40s, are from El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Mexico, according to CBS Baltimore’s partners at The Baltimore Banner. They have spouses and children and were described as “hard-working, humble men,” by an employee at the construction company.
One of the missing was identified as by thee nonprofit organization CASA as Miguel Luna, who is originally from El Salvador. He is a husband and father of three, who lived in Maryland for 19 years.
Honduras’ Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Antonio García said one of the missing workers, Maynor Yassir Suazo Sandoval, was from Honduras, the The Associated Press reports.
Guatemala’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said two of the missing workers are from Guatemala. The Mexican Embassy in Washington also confirmed there were Mexicans among the six missing.
A vigil was held for the workers on Tuesday night.
Divers were due back in the water on Wednesday.
CBS News
Former NFL player Steve Gleason gets candid about ALS journey: “This body may be a prison but my mind is free”
Steve Gleason helped lift the spirit of New Orleans with his iconic punt block during the Saints’ first home game after Hurricane Katrina in 2006 – two years before he retired from the NFL.
In 2011, the former New Orleans Saints safety was diagnosed with ALS. He believes that block, which he has called one of his proudest moments, saved his life.
“In 2006, when I blocked that punt on Monday night football, it was undoubtedly a phenomenon that was much more important than winning a football game,” Gleason said in an interview that aired Monday on “CBS Mornings.”
Creating “Team Gleason”
Shortly after his diagnosis, Gleason and his wife Michel made it their mission to help empower others with ALS and raise awareness for the disease, creating the Team Gleason Foundation. The foundation has provided over $40 million in technology, equipment and care services to people with ALS.
“So many people have told us that our foundation’s efforts and support have saved their lives. But if I didn’t block that punt, I’m just another has-been football player. It’s probably that I’d just fade away and die anonymously. I don’t see any of this happening,” Gleason said.
In a recent text conversation with his friend Brian Jeansonne, a former pastor from New Orleans who was diagnosed with ALS in 2020, Gleason was asked if he believes he’d have the same range and impact on ALS without that legendary 2006 block.
“My answer was, ‘If I don’t block the punt, I’m probably not alive,” Gleason said.
Jonathan Bachman / Getty Images
He added, “But here we are. I did block the punt…and this community, my family and friends and their love continue to uplift me throughout this crazy wonderful journey with ALS.”
Because of his heart and strength, Gleason was honored with the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage at the 2024 ESPYS.
“Steve Gleason has always been determined to write his own story and live to be 109. Through it all, he has never given in, never stopped fighting, No white flags. And never stopped finding ways to inspire, impact, and write his own story,” former Saints quarterback Drew Brees said at the 2024 ESPYs when introducing Gleason.
Living with ALS
CBS Mornings
When Gleason was diagnosed with ALS, he admits he had to tackle a wide range of emotions – going from frustrated to fearful, to angry. Gleason and Michel shared candid details about their journey with ALS in a new memoir, “A Life Impossible: Living with ALS: Finding Peace and Wisdom Within a Fragile Existence,” co-written with Jeff Duncan.
“The readers will see that 13 years of living with this gnarly disease and I’m over a decade past my expiration date, so I have the wilderness of fear tattooed all over me,” Gleason said.
Through the process of losing muscle control, Gleason said he held on to the one thing he has control over: his mindset.
“This body may be a prison but my mind is free,” Gleason said.
Michel admits she’s still tackling feelings of anger and frustration.
“I have not transcended it all like Steve has. But also [I’m] able to move and talk and feel. I’m proud of him for where he is because I really can’t imagine…having to do what he does every day,” she said.
Gleason uses a special computer equipped with eye-tracking software to communicate daily. But the technology isn’t always perfect.
“His technology doesn’t always work. His eyes get tired and some days I just want to be like I just wish today we could have like a regular conversation to figure out the next week,” Michel said.
Sometimes, Michel said, it’s hard for Gleason to communicate with his 5-year-old daughter Gray and 12-year-old son Rivers.
“It’s painful to watch, because I know how much he wants to be communicating with them,” she said.
“We all have a timeline”
Gleason believes “we all have a timeline,” and he finds that concept “absolutely beautiful.”
His advice to others: live like today is the last day you’ll be able to move, talk and breathe on your own.
If you start to shift your mindset, Gleason said, your perspective will change.
“Will you be more appreciative and less concerned about achievement or material success knowing this is your last day of moving?” he asked. “When you hug your child or run your hand through their hair, knowing this is the last time, how much will you appreciate the preciousness of that moment?”
“Mic drop,” agreed Michel before giving him a “forehead to forehead” hug.
CBS Mornings
Watch David Begnaud’s full interview with Steve Gleason here.
David Begnaud loves uncovering the heart of every story and will continue to do so, highlighting everyday heroes and proving that there is good news in the news with his exclusive “CBS Mornings” series “Beg-Knows America.” Every Monday, get ready for moments that will make you smile or even shed a tear. Do you have a story about an ordinary person doing something extraordinary for someone else? Email David and his team at DearDavid@cbsnews.com
Watch CBS News
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.
Watch CBS News
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.
