Man whose camera caught Baltimore bridge collapse expresses loss: ‘You thought it would always be there’

BALTIMORE (WMAR) - By now, you’ve probably seen the video showing the moment Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key bridge collapsed Tuesday after a cargo ship hit a pillar.

Six people — who were believed to be part of a road construction crew — are presumed to be dead.

The U.S. Coast Guard ended its active rescue mission Tuesday evening.

“I can hardly talk about it right now,” said Mike Singer, owner of Baltimore & Chesapeake Bay Ship Watchers, whose camera caught the collapse.

Seven years ago, Singer started Baltimore & Chesapeake Bay Ship Watchers.

He has one camera focused on the Key Bridge, streaming live 24-7, and his is the video going around the world.

“There are actually what are called dolphins, giant cement pillars that are supposed to protect the ship. We’re supposed to protect this bridge from ships. There’s four of them out there. They’re huge. They’re as big as cars. Um, obviously, they didn’t work today,” Singer said Tuesday. “Unbelievable.”

It’s one thing to see it on video and on your social media pages. But to see it in person, you want to look and then turn away.

“Just can’t believe it. You know, it’s been there. You thought it would always be there,” Singer said.

It’s like going down the Alameda and not seeing the lights for Memorial stadium or the Checkerboard Tower missing at Eastpoint. The Key Bridge is gone.

“It’s just, it’s it’s not my hometown. It’s not what you know. That bridge is iconic to Baltimore,” he said.

Senior White House adviser Tom Perez said “it’s too early” to tell how long it will take to rebuild the bridge.

The collapse has indefinitely halted the flow of ships in and out of Baltimore and could hurt the local economy as well as put a strain on supply chains.