‘Is This Real?’ And Other Cries After Catastrophic Bridge Collapse

BALTIMORE, MD — People who regularly use the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore were in shocked disbelief after a cargo ship the size of a skyscraper rammed into the span early Tuesday, presumably killing six construction workers.

Patch’s Jacob Baumgart was on the scene of the catastrophe early Tuesday and interviewed commuters and others who frequently cross the 1.6-mile bridge over the Patapsco River.

“At first, I didn’t think it was real,” James Ellsworth, a professional wrestler from Glen Burnie, Maryland, told Baumgart. “When I saw the video, I said, ‘This has to be just a made-up video.’ Then, when I realized it was real, I was like, ‘Oh my God.’ ”

• Read the full Patch Exclusive: ‘I Didn’t Think It Was Real’: Residents React

Visit Baltimore Patch’s Key Bridge Collapse page for all the latest developments and complete coverage, including these stories:

• Baltimore Bridge Collapse Timeline, Investigation Plan Released
• EPA Monitoring Ship Crash Scene For Hazardous Materials
• Jobs In Limbo, Supply Chain Resilient After Bridge Collapse
• Listen To Radio Calls To Stop Traffic Before Baltimore Bridge Collapse
• Photos: A Search For Survivors After Bridge Collapse