‘I just heard this great big noise’: Md. neighbors recall moment Baltimore’s Key Bridge fell

Md. neighbors recall moment Baltimore bridge shattered

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Throughout the day on Tuesday, dozens of people kept ignoring the “no parking” signs that line Dundalk Avenue to get out of their cars and look beyond the Port of Baltimore toward the Francis Scott Key Bridge — or at least where the Key Bridge is supposed to be.

From there you can see some of it, but the great arching bridge that’s part of the skyline in Baltimore is missing, and even those who heard the crash as it happened overnight had to show up to stare, seeing what they never believed they had heard.



“I was up and I just heard this great big noise and rumbling sound, and I thought it was something going on down my road, so I got up out of my chair and walked outside and there was nothing,” said Frank Wolfe, who lives in Dundalk.

Only when he woke up later on in the morning did he put two and two together.

“It was just a big rumbling sound and you could feel the vibration on the ground from it last night,” Wolfe said. “It was just a weird thing to hear that early in the morning.”

He estimated it only lasted a few seconds, but another person staring out at the skyline, John Myers, also admitted the sound was unusual only for that hour of the day.

“It sounded a little different, but it sounded like most of the stuff you hear from the shipyard,” Myers said. “Weird bang, bangs, just normal bangs you don’t hear at night, especially coming from the shipyard” is how he described it.

Myers didn’t feel it, but Josh Rebeiro said he did. He was doing some work inside a home nearby at the time of the crash and initially thought it was a tornado or a car crash.

“It was just bang,” he said.

There’s an acknowledgment that the impact of the bridge collapse is going to be felt close to home, but also far away.

“This bridge here, it gets around 30,000 to 40,000 vehicles across it per day,” Wolfe said. “This is a major route.”

“I know there’s a lot of people that counted on the bridge … to get to where they need to go from Point A to Point B with no hassle,” Myers added. “That’s gone.”

He also said a lot of problems will be coming to the port, which handles over 52 million tons of cargo and hundreds of thousands of vehicle import and export.

In fact, being the closest oceanic port to the Midwest means Baltimore sees more vehicles enter and leave through its waters than any other port in the country.

“It’s probably going to take a long time to find another way to get everything into the community. Nobody’s coming in or out right now,” Myers said. “I don’t think I even understand the gravity of how much it’s going to affect everything. I’m thinking locally and I know it’s going to be more than that. I just don’t know how much.”

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John Domen

John started working at WTOP in 2016 after having grown up in Maryland listening to the station as a child. While he got his on-air start at small stations in Pennsylvania and Delaware, he's spent most of his career in the D.C. area, having been heard on several local stations before coming to WTOP.

The recovery from the deadly Baltimore bridge collapse reached a significant milestone, as the ill-fated container ship Dali was slowly escorted back to port. (Courtesy Key Bridge Response 2024 Unified Command)
Refloated at high tide, the vessel slowly moved away from the site of the March 26 disaster, guided by at least four tugboats. (Courtesy Key Bridge Response 2024 Unified Command)
Salvors working with the Key Bridge Response Unified Command refloated and moved the M/V Dali. (Courtesy Key Bridge Response 2024 Unified Command)
FILE – Explosive charges are detonated to bring down sections of the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge resting on the container ship Dali on Monday, May 13, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, file)
Explosive charges are detonated to bring down sections of the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge resting on the container ship Dali on Monday, May 13, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
Visitors look at a damaged truck, part of a memorial along a road leading to a park at the base of the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge on Sunday, May 12, 2024, in Baltimore. An effort to remove sections of the collapsed bridge resting on the container ship Dali was postponed on Sunday. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
A visitor walks through a memorial along a road leading to a park at the base of the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge, Sunday, May 12, 2024, in Baltimore. An effort to remove sections of the collapsed bridge resting on the container ship Dali was postponed on Sunday. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
A cross memorializing construction worker Alejandro Hernandez Fuentes is displayed at a memorial along a road leading to a park at the base of the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge, Sunday, May 12, 2024, in Baltimore. An effort to remove sections of the collapsed bridge resting on the container ship Dali was postponed Sunday. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
A photo of construction worker Jose Mynor Lopez is displayed at a memorial along a road leading to a park at the base of the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge, Sunday, May 12, 2024, in Baltimore. An effort to remove sections of the collapsed bridge resting on the container ship Dali was postponed Sunday. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
A photo of construction worker Maynor Yassir Suazo Sandoval is displayed at a memorial along a road leading to a park at the base of the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge, Sunday, May 12, 2024, in Baltimore. An effort to remove sections of the collapsed bridge resting on the container ship Dali was postponed Sunday. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
Flowers are seen at a memorial site to honor the construction workers who lost their lives in the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Thursday, April 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Workers remove wreckage of the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge, Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
A vessel, right, moves past the stranded container ship Dali, through a newly opened deep-water channel in Baltimore after being stuck in the harbor since the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed four weeks ago, Thursday, April 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
bridge underwater
This sonar image shows bridge wreckage in the deepest part of the federal Port of Baltimore Shipping Channel (left), and one of the Francis Scott Key Bridge main supports (center). (Courtesy Key Bridge Response 2024 Unified Command)
This sonar CODA image, provided by the U.S. Navy’s Naval Sea System Command (NAVSEA) Supervisor of Salvage and Diving (SUPSALV), shows bridge wreckage in the deepest part of the federal Port of Baltimore Shipping Channel, and one of the Francis Scott Key Bridge main supports. (Courtesy Key Bridge Response 2024 Unified Command)
This sonar image, provided by the U.S. Navy’s Naval Sea System Command (NAVSEA) Supervisor of Salvage and Diving (SUPSALV), shows bridge wreckage in the deepest part of the federal Port of Baltimore Shipping Channel (center), and one of the Francis Scott Key Bridge main supports (right). (Courtesy Key Bridge Response 2024 Unified Command)
Image shows wreckage of Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore underwater. (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers)
President Joe Biden delivers remarks on the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore. (Courtesy YouTube/White House)
Maryland Bridge Collapse
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, left, speaks during a news conference as Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) looks on near the scene where a container ship collided with a support on the Francis Scott Key Bridge, Tuesday, March 26, 2024 in Baltimore. The major bridge in Baltimore snapped and collapsed after a container ship rammed into it early Tuesday, and several vehicles fell into the river below. Rescuers were searching for multiple people in the water. (AP Photo/Steve Ruark)
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg embrace after a news conference near the scene where a container ship collided with a support on the Francis Scott Key Bridge, in Dundalk, Md., Tuesday, March 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
People gather for a vigil near the scene where a container ship collided with a support on the Francis Scott Key Bridge, at Mount Olive Baptist Church in Dundalk, Md., Tuesday, March 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Members of the National Transportation Safety Board listen to NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy speak during a news conference near the scene where a container ship collided with a support on the Francis Scott Key Bridge, in Dundalk, Md., Tuesday, March 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
APTOPIX Maryland Bridge Collapse
This satellite image provided by Maxar Technologies shows a view of the Francis Scott Key Bridge that was struck by a container ship in Baltimore, Md., on Tuesday, March 26, 2024. The container ship lost power and rammed into the major bridge causing the span to buckle into the river below. (Maxaar Technologies via AP)
Maryland Bridge Collapse
A container ship as it rests against wreckage of the Francis Scott Key Bridge on Tuesday, March 26, 2024, as seen from Dundalk, Md. The ship rammed into the major bridge in Baltimore early Tuesday, causing it to collapse in a matter of seconds and creating a terrifying scene as several vehicles plunged into the chilly river below. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Maryland Bridge Collapse
Boats move near a container ship as it rests against wreckage of the Francis Scott Key Bridge on Tuesday, March 26, 2024, as seen from Dundalk, Md. The ship rammed into the major bridge in Baltimore early Tuesday, causing it to collapse in a matter of seconds and creating a terrifying scene as several vehicles plunged into the chilly river below. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Maryland-Bridge-Collapse
Parts of the Francis Scott Key Bridge remain after a container ship collided with one of the bridge’s supports Tuesday, March 26, 2024 in Baltimore. The major bridge in Baltimore snapped and collapsed after a container ship rammed into it early Tuesday, and several vehicles fell into the river below. Rescuers were searching for multiple people in the water. (WJLA via AP)
Maryland-Bridge-Collapse
Parts of the Francis Scott Key Bridge remain after a container ship collided with one of the bridge’s supports Tuesday, March 26, 2024 in Baltimore. The major bridge in Baltimore snapped and collapsed after a container ship rammed into it early Tuesday, and several vehicles fell into the river below. Rescuers were searching for multiple people in the water. (WJLA via AP)
A cargo ship is shown after running into and collapsing the Francis Scott Key Bridge on March 26, 2024 in Baltimore, Maryland. Two people have been pulled from the Patapsco River, while authorities say rescuers are searching for at least seven others. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
A cargo ship is shown after running into and collapsing the Francis Scott Key Bridge on March 26, 2024 in Baltimore, Maryland. Two people have been pulled from the Patapsco River, while authorities say rescuers are searching for at least seven others. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
Parts of the Francis Scott Key Bridge remain after a container ship collided with a support Tuesday, March 26, 2024 in Baltimore. The major bridge in Baltimore snapped and collapsed after a container ship rammed into it early Tuesday, and several vehicles fell into the river below. Rescuers were searching for multiple people in the water. (AP Photo/Steve Ruark)
A cargo ship is shown after running into and collapsing the Francis Scott Key Bridge on March 26, 2024 in Baltimore, Maryland. Two people have been pulled from the Patapsco River, while authorities say rescuers are searching for at least seven others. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
Baltimore Police Commissioner Richard Worley, with Mayor Brandon Scott (R) and Fire Department Chief James Wallace (L), speaks at a press conference on the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge Baltimore, Maryland, on March 26, 2024. The bridge collapsed early March 26 after being struck by a container ship, sending multiple vehicles plunging into the harbor below. (Photo by Jim WATSON / AFP) (Photo by JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images)
The steel frame of the Francis Scott Key Bridge sits on the water after it collapsed in Baltimore, Maryland, on March 26, 2024. The bridge collapsed after being struck by a container ship, sending multiple vehicles plunging into the harbor below. (Photo by Jim WATSON / AFP) (Photo by JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images)
Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse is shown early morning, Tuesday, March 26, 2024 from Riviera Beach, Md. A container ship rammed into a major bridge in Baltimore early Tuesday, causing it to snap in a few places and plunge into the river below. Several vehicles fell into the chilly waters, and rescuers were initially searching for at least seven people. (AP Photo/Nathan Ellgren)
Parts of the Francis Scott Key Bridge remain after a container ship collided with a support Tuesday, March 26, 2024, in Baltimore. The major bridge in Baltimore snapped and collapsed after a container ship rammed into it early Tuesday, and several vehicles fell into the river below. Rescuers were searching for multiple people in the water. (AP Photo/Steve Ruark)
Key Bridge in Baltimore
A cargo boat strikes the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland early Tuesday morning. (Courtesy StreamTime Live via YouTube)
Submerged debris from the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore early Tuesday morning. The Key bridge collapsed after being struck by a large cargo ship. (Photo Credit Baltimore City Fire Department via Facebook)
dali with Key Bridge debris
The cargo ship “Dali” under debris from the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore early Tuesday morning. The vessel, owned by Synergy Marine Group, was headed through Baltimore to Colombo, Sri Lanka, as its final destination when it struck and collapsed the Key bridge after reportedly losing power. (Photo Credit Baltimore City Fire Department via Facebook)
key-bridge-sunken
Submerged debris from the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore early Tuesday morning. The Key bridge collapsed after being struck by a large cargo ship. (Photo Credit Baltimore City Fire Department via Facebook)
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bridge underwater
Maryland Bridge Collapse
APTOPIX Maryland Bridge Collapse
Maryland Bridge Collapse
Maryland Bridge Collapse
Maryland-Bridge-Collapse
Maryland-Bridge-Collapse
Key Bridge in Baltimore
dali with Key Bridge debris
key-bridge-sunken
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