We posted a little earlier (see 11.35pm) about the 1975 collapse of Hobart’s Tasman Bridge after it was hit by a vessel. On that occasion, 12 people died.
Seven people are missing after Tuesday’s Baltimore bridge collapse.
So exactly how often does this sort of thing happen? The answer is “not that often” – especially given the extent of worldwide shipping and the number of waterways navigated each day.
The Associated Press reports that from 1960 to 2015, 35 “major” bridges collapsed worldwide due to ship or barge collisions, based on a 2018 report from the World Association for Waterborne Transport Infrastructure. Some 342 lives have been lost in such tragedies.
Here are a few of the more serious US bridge disasters since 1980.
Sunshine Skyway Bridge (35 dead): On May 9, 1980, a freighter hit the Sunshine Skyway Bridge in Florida’s Tampa Bay. Seven vehicles, including a bus, fell into the water.
A car stopped just in time on the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, Florida after a ship struck the bridge in May, 1980.Credit: AP
Big Bayou Canot (47 dead): On September 22, 1993, barges being pushed by a towboat hit the Big Bayou Canot railroad bridge near Mobile, Alabama. Minutes later, an Amtrak train with 220 people aboard derailed at the site.
Queen Isabella Causeway (8 dead): A tugboat and barge struck the causeway in Port Isabel, Texas on September 15, 2001. A section of bridge tumbled into the bay. Eight people died after motorists drove into the hole.
Interstate 40 Bridge, Oklahoma (14 dead): A barge hit the Interstate 40 bridge over the Arkansas River at Webbers Falls, Oklahoma on May 26, 2002, collapsing a section of road and plunging vehicles into the water.
with AP