BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – Two American forensic pathologists in New Zealand felt a connection to the tragic incident at the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore. The collapse impacted the medical community, with two bodies recovered from the water and four workers still missing. The cause of death for the victims, who were construction workers, could be either blunt force trauma or drowning, typical in incidents of this nature.
Forensic pathologists play a crucial role in determining the cause of death in such disasters, looking for signs of internal injuries that could indicate the victims’ conscious pain and suffering. In cases like this, where blunt trauma and drowning are the likely mechanisms of death, the examination of the victims’ remains can provide important insights into what happened during the incident.
The recovery efforts for the missing workers entombed in rubble in the Patapsco River may be challenging due to the hazardous materials carried by the container ship that caused the bridge collapse. The international nature of the incident, involving workers from various countries and an investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board, adds complexity to the aftermath of the tragedy.
Similar to past incidents like the collapse of the Champlain Towers South condominium in Miami, the legal implications of the Baltimore bridge collapse may take years to resolve. The safety of waterways and bridges, as well as regulatory responses to such disasters, will be under scrutiny as authorities work to understand what led to the tragic event and how to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The role of forensic pathologists in documenting conscious pain and suffering, providing closure to families, and potentially supporting litigation against those responsible for such disasters is crucial in understanding the full impact of such incidents. The investigation into the Baltimore bridge collapse will shed light on the circumstances leading to the tragedy and the measures needed to prevent such catastrophes in the future.