Following the tragic bridge collapse incident, authorities have made the difficult decision to pause search and recovery efforts for the four individuals who are presumed dead. Col. Roland L. Butler Jr., the superintendent of Maryland State Police, announced on Wednesday evening that the operation will now shift from recovery to salvage.
Butler Jr. explained that due to the challenging conditions at the site, divers are no longer able to safely navigate and operate around the vehicles believed to be trapped under the debris. Sonar scans have indicated that the vehicles are encased within the superstructure and concrete of the collapsed bridge.
While there is no definitive timeline for the salvage phase, officials are preparing to remove the superstructure to allow divers to access the area and bring closure to the families of the victims. Once the salvage operation is complete, divers will return to the site to continue their efforts.
“The sonar simply said they cannot get to that area because it was fully encased in the superstructure,' Butler Jr. stated. “Once that salvage effort takes place and that superstructure is removed, those same divers are going to go back out there and bring those people closure,' he added.
Authorities are committed to ensuring a thorough and respectful salvage operation to retrieve the victims and provide closure to their loved ones. The community continues to mourn the loss of those affected by this tragic event, and efforts are underway to support the families during this difficult time.
