Nearly One Year Later, Officials Share Investigation Update After Baltimore Bridge Collapse That Killed 6

Nearly one year after the tragedy, officials have given an update about their investigation into the Baltimore bridge collapse that killed six construction workers.

In an update on Thursday, March 20, the National Transportation Safety Board said that at the time of the tragedy, the Francis Scott Key Bridge — which collapsed into the Patapsco River early in the morning of March 26, 2024, after being hit by a 948-foot cargo ship — was "almost 30 times above the acceptable risk threshold for critical or essential bridges."

The agency went on to recommend that 30 owners of 68 bridges in 19 states "conduct a vulnerability assessment to determine the risk of bridge collapse from a vessel collision" after officials identified the bridges were designed before the AASHTO guidance was established — like the Key Bridge.

Though there isn't concern that the 68 bridges are certain to collapse, the NTSB is recommending that these bridge owners "evaluate whether the bridges are above the AASHTO acceptable level of risk" and "develop and implement a comprehensive risk reduction plan, if the calculations indicate a bridge has a risk level above the AASHTO threshold."

Notably, the NTSB found that if the Maryland Transportation Authority conducted a vulnerability assessment on the bridge before the collapse, officials would have "had information to proactively reduce the bridge’s risk of a collapse."

They are also recommending the Federal Highway Administration, the U.S. Coast Guard and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers "establish an interdisciplinary team to provide guidance and assistance to bridge owners on evaluating and reducing the risk, which could mean infrastructure improvements or operational changes." The Key Bridge was built before vulnerability assessments were required by FHWA, the agency shared.

The NTSB previously offered an update on March 27, 2024, following their “first full investigative day on scene."

At the time, NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy said the bridge was inspected in May 2023, a year before the crash, and was found to be in "satisfactory" condition.

Before the crash, the cargo ship experienced a power outage shortly before contact was made, which prompted the crew members to issue a “mayday” call.

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The advanced warning allowed officials to stop traffic so that more cars weren't on the bridge at the time.

Survivor Julio Cervantes Suarez previously spoke with NBC News about the fateful morning, when the 37-year-old father was fixing potholes on the bridge, working alongside his nephew, brother-in-law and several friends.

They were all taking a break in their cars when the crash occurred and Cervantes Suarez recalled watching as the cars began falling into the water.

Cervantes Suarez’s truck fell 18 stories into the cold river, but as the vehicle’s windows were manual, he was able to escape. Despite knowing how to swim, Cervantes Suarez made his way to a piece of bridge debris and held on until rescue workers found him. 

His nephew, Carlos Daniel Hernández, as well as José Mynor López, Alejandro Hernandez Fuentes, Dorlian Ronial Castillo Cabrera, Maynor Yasir Suazo-Sandoval and Miguel Angel Luna Gonzalez lost their lives as a result of the collision.

In February, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore unveiled a new design concept for the Francis Scott Key Bridge, which is expected to be completed in 2028.