Baltimore bridge collapse reason: Why did Francis Scott Key Bridge fall and what do we know about ship accident?

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

At 1:27 am (ET), a container ship named the Dali was sailing down the Patapsco River when it struck a pylon of the bridge, crumpling almost the entire structure into the water. There was no indication of terrorism, police said, as per a Reuters report.

Why did Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge Collapse?

Officials have said repeatedly that there is «no indication» of terrorism. CCTV footage shows the ship going dark twice in the minutes before, possibly indicating some kind of power failure on board. Synergy Marine Group said the cause «has yet to be determined», as per AFP report.

Some experts suggested the bridge's main support structures may not have been properly protected to withstand a collision by such a large vessel, AFP reported.

Maryland Governor Wes Moore has claimed that the crew aboard the ship issued a distress call, signaling a «mayday» before the vessel collided with the bridge, as per CNN report.

Francis Scott Key bridge

The Francis Scott Key bridge is a four-lane structure that sits 185 feet (56 meters) above the river. It opened in 1977 and crosses the Patapsco River, where US national anthem author Francis Scott Key wrote the «Star Spangled Banner» in 1814 after witnessing the British defeat at the Battle of Baltimore and the British bombing of Fort McHenry.

The bridge carries 11.3 million vehicles a year, according to the Maryland Transportation Authority, on the I-695 highway that circles Baltimore, also known as the Baltimore