The U.S. Coast Guard and Maryland State Police announced they were suspending the search for six construction workers who went missing when the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore collapsed into the Patapsco River early Tuesday morning.
During a press conference, officials said they do not believe the six construction workers would be found alive, adding they were suspending search and rescue efforts at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday.
Divers are expected to reenter the water after 6 a.m. on Wednesday, officials added.
The cold water temps, low visibility and impending weather conditions all factored into the decision to seize search and rescue operations.
“We’re doing our very best,” Maryland State Police Col. Roland Butler told reporters.
He explained that the last thing he and others want to do is put divers in the water where so much metal and debris from the collapsed bridge now rests.
Butler said all it takes is one object striking one of the divers and creating additional search efforts.
He was asked by reporters about the possibility of vehicles being on the bridge when it collapsed and said, there is a distinct possibility.
While the Maryland Department of Transportation was able to shut down traffic, Butler said, it is possible a car could have been on the bridge, though there is no information at this time to support that scenario.
