Body camera footage captures first responders' reactions in wake of Baltimore bridge collapse

Julia Gomez, USA TODAY
Updated ·1 min read

Body camera footage caught the moment first responders were left shocked by the Baltimore bridge collapse.

"This is [expletive] bad," one officer is heard saying in the footage. "Like, there is no bridge."

In the video, which was originally published by The Baltimore Banner, an officer is heard stuttering while standing on a boat as he looks out to where the Francis Scott Key Bridge once stood.

"It's like something's missing here in the skyline..." said the officer. "The whole center span is gone completely. It's in the water."

The sun rises on May 9, 2024 as salvage work continues on the Francis Scott Key Bridge, a major span over the Patapsco River in Baltimore that collapsed on March 26, 2024 after it was struck by a Singapore-flagged container ship 'Dali’, killing six road workers who were on the bridge at the time.
The sun rises on May 9, 2024 as salvage work continues on the Francis Scott Key Bridge, a major span over the Patapsco River in Baltimore that collapsed on March 26, 2024 after it was struck by a Singapore-flagged container ship 'Dali’, killing six road workers who were on the bridge at the time.

The media outlet reports that at 5 a.m., the officer was talking on his cell phone. He stood on a boat that neared the collapsed bridge and spoke with someone who reported that everything was suspended until there was sunlight.

What happened during the bridge collapse?

On March 26, early in the morning, a 984-foot container ship struck the bridge, which left it in ruins. A video posted to YouTube shows how the bridge collapsed and plunged into the water that morning.

The incident killed six construction workers who were on the bridge fixing potholes.

On May 7, more than a month after the collapse, the final victim was recovered from the river according to police.

Salvage work continues on the Francis Scott Key Bridge on May 9, 2024. The major span over the Patapsco River in Baltimore collapsed on March 26, 2024 after it was struck by a Singapore-flagged container ship 'Dali’, killing six road workers who were on the bridge at the time.
Salvage work continues on the Francis Scott Key Bridge on May 9, 2024. The major span over the Patapsco River in Baltimore collapsed on March 26, 2024 after it was struck by a Singapore-flagged container ship 'Dali’, killing six road workers who were on the bridge at the time.

Julia is a trending reporter for USA TODAY. She has covered various topics, from local businesses and government in her hometown, Miami, to tech and pop culture. You can follow her on X, formerly Twitter, Instagram and TikTok: @juliamariegz

Contributing: Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY, and Reuters

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Francis Scott Key Bridge: First responder's reaction captured on body cam