SIX people are feared to have been killed by the collapsed Baltimore bridge, authorities said today.

A massive cargo ship, the Dali, lost its steering capabilities early on Tuesday morning and smashed into a support pillar of the Francis Scott Key Bridge that crosses the Patapsco River carrying the busy Interstate 695.

The collision caused a long span of the bridge to crumple into the river, sending at least eight people plummeting into the water. Some vehicles appeared to have escaped the disaster with just seconds to spare.