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submitted 7 months ago by Kaboom@reddthat.com to c/news@lemmy.world
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[-] MerrySkeptic@sh.itjust.works 59 points 7 months ago

Holy shit I can't imagine the sheer terror. One second you're just doing your normal work commute, the next you just fell a hundred feet into freezing water. Without reacting immediately you're probably trapped in your car from the water pressure. Shit shit shit

[-] Semi_Hemi_Demigod@lemmy.world 65 points 7 months ago

Luckily this happened around 1:30 in the morning, because at rush hour that bridge is bumper to bumper and the death toll would be in the hundreds or even thousands.

[-] BirdEnjoyer@kbin.social 31 points 7 months ago

This is what I'm thinking.

Its a genuine miracle that this is such a small death toll in a major city like this.

One can hope this raises awareness to fracture critical (iirc the term?) bridges that are vulnerable to catastrophic failures

[-] Semi_Hemi_Demigod@lemmy.world 27 points 7 months ago

I wonder if the death toll from having emergency services having to take a longer, more congested route will be higher than the actual accident. That bridge is the only way to cross the Patapsco south of Baltimore.

[-] BirdEnjoyer@kbin.social 14 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

I mean, you're not wrong.
IIRC the hospitals are not spread out in ideal locations for this scenario, and I can't see Baltimore pulling an infrastructure miracle to compensate for the collapse any time soon.

[-] Semi_Hemi_Demigod@lemmy.world 17 points 7 months ago

The traffic effects will be felt from Philadelphia to DC, so I imagine the feds will jump on this pretty quick. I think the biggest problem is that it's a major bridge and the channel for a major port. Building a bridge without getting in the way of the shipping traffic is going to be complicated.

[-] Peppycito@sh.itjust.works 2 points 7 months ago

And I'm positive there will be extensive containership proofing upgrades that will complicate the build further.

[-] BirdEnjoyer@kbin.social 1 points 7 months ago

Shows what I know about Baltimore. How interesting.

[-] macarthur_park@lemmy.world 22 points 7 months ago

Luckily the bridge was closed to traffic in both directions at the time, for construction. Unfortunately, the missing people are the construction crew.

[-] tate@lemmy.sdf.org 15 points 7 months ago

The article says several vehicle are in the water, including a tractor trailer rig. There was construction happening, but the bridge was apparently not closed.

[-] macarthur_park@lemmy.world 22 points 7 months ago

They closed it after the ship’s Mayday call.

Officials said in a news conference that a mayday had been issued before the collision, which allowed officials to stop traffic onto the bridge. Officials did not clarify how many vehicles were on the bridge at the time of the collapse. Infrared video showed that vehicles did enter the water, but it's not clear if those vehicles had occupants. Multiple vehicles remained in the river as of mid-morning.

So far they’re only saying that members of the construction crew are missing.

Six people remain unaccounted for, Maryland Department of Transportation Secretary Paul Wiedefeld said in a mid-morning news conference. All six were part of a construction crew that was filling potholes on the bridge at the time, Wiedefeld said. Two other workers were rescued from the water.

[-] EmpathicVagrant@lemmy.world 3 points 7 months ago

Always cross bridges with the window cracked or open, folks!

[-] juicy@lemmy.today 15 points 7 months ago

The odds of a bridge collapsing while you drive over it are far too small to bother.

[-] aStonedSanta@lemm.ee 9 points 7 months ago

Not in America! Look up our crumbling bridge infrastructure to be amazed.

[-] elbarto777@lemmy.world 4 points 7 months ago

Still, the odds of happening to ,you are very slim.

But I'm curious. Why would you crack open a window while crossing?

[-] Mouselemming@sh.itjust.works 2 points 7 months ago

Yeah, then you can just drown nice and quick in icy water. Still better, since chance of escape or rescue is pretty much nil.

[-] Dhs92@programming.dev 13 points 7 months ago

You can open the doors just fine once the cabin fills with water

[-] Mouselemming@sh.itjust.works 12 points 7 months ago

This is true, if you can hold your breath long enough, against the pressure and the shock of the cold water and the pounding of your heart. I watched that Mythbusters episode too, and I think I'd die.

this post was submitted on 26 Mar 2024
262 points (95.5% liked)

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