A Mexican navy ship collided with the bridge with one of its masts smashing into the road deck
At least two people were killed after a Mexican navy ship, carrying hundreds of cadets and crew, collided with the Brooklyn Bridge. Sources said the Cuauhtémoc, a 270-foot training vessel, hit the bridge just before 8.30pm on Saturday, May 17, with one of its towering 147-foot masts smashing into the road deck..
The terrifying impact caused the mast to crash down onto the ship’s deck in a horrifying scene captured on video. The crash happened without warning leaving at least 19 other people injured with two said to be in a critical condition.
Emergency services rushed to the scene, with NYPD Harbor and Scuba teams conducting a frantic search and rescue mission. The bridge was briefly closed in both directions but was later reopened around 10:30pm.
Although no one was believed to have fallen into the East River, dozens of victims were reported injured on board. Video from the scene showed horrified onlookers screaming and fleeing as the vessel approached, reports the Mirror.
This morning, Mayor Eric Adams provided an update on the incident via social media, stating: “Earlier tonight, the Mexican Navy tall ship Cuauhtémoc lost power and crashed into the Brooklyn Bridge. At this time, of the 277 on board, 19 sustained injuries, 2 of which remain in critical condition, and 2 more have sadly passed away from their injuries.
“We are praying for everyone on board and their families and are grateful to our first responders who quickly jumped into action, ensuring this accident wasn’t much worse. Following our preliminary inspection, we can confirm that the bridge sustained no damage and is now open to the public.”
The training vessel, built at the Celaya Shipyards in Bilbao, Spain in 1981, was manoeuvring away from Pier 17 when it collided. While the precise cause of the crash has yet to be officially confirmed, Mayor Eric Adams indicated that a loss of power seemed to be the issue.
The collision was captured on video by numerous onlookers from various vantage points as they gathered to watch the majestic ship set off. The footage shows the ship reversing towards the bridge until its highest mast strikes it.
The ship was departing New York en route to Iceland, according to a New York police official.
