Brooklyn Bridge Collision

A Mexican navy ship crashed into New York City’s Brooklyn Bridge Saturday, killing two sailors and injuring at least 19 others, two of them critically. No one on the bridge was harmed, and a preliminary investigation revealed no significant structural damage to the bridge. See footage of the incident here (w/video).

The Cuauhtémoc is a 160-foot-tall vessel bringing Mexican cadets on an annual worldwide tour following their training. The ship was scheduled to carry its 277-person crew to 22 ports across 15 countries in under a year. After docking for several days, the Cuauhtémoc was due to depart Manhattan and head toward Iceland. It was not immediately clear what caused the vessel to veer off course and crash. Initial findings suggest a power cut and mechanical malfunction are to blame; a federal investigation remains ongoing.

The Brooklyn Bridge is a major tourist attraction, bearing an estimated 32,000 pedestrians in addition to the 100,000 commuter vehicles it handles every day. It was once the world’s longest suspension bridge; learn more here.