Following the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge on the Baltimore Beltway in Maryland, former Minnesota Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty drew parallels to a similar tragedy he faced in 2007. The incident in Minneapolis involved the I-35W bridge collapsing due to a structural flaw, resulting in thirteen fatalities and 145 injuries.
Pawlenty highlighted the shared emotions of shock, grief, and sadness experienced by both communities, emphasizing the importance of expressing condolences to the families and victims. He noted the immediate rush of various tasks that authorities must address in the aftermath of such disasters.
Comparing the response efforts, Pawlenty commended Maryland Democratic Gov. Wes Moore for initiating an all-hands-on-deck recovery operation, mirroring the approach taken during the I-35W bridge recovery in Minneapolis.
However, Pawlenty pointed out a key difference in the investigative focus between the two incidents. While the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) delved into the structural issues of the Minneapolis bridge, he anticipated that investigators would concentrate more on alleged mechanical failures of the Singapore-flagged container ship that collided with the Key Bridge after departing from the Port of Baltimore.
Speculating on the shift in investigative priorities, Pawlenty suggested that the inquiry would likely pivot from examining the bridge itself to scrutinizing the events surrounding the ship's collision with the Key Bridge.
