The tragic collision of the Mexican navy tall ship Cuauhtémoc with the Brooklyn Bridge on Saturday resulted in the deaths of two naval cadets, marking a historic and deadly incident. While vessels have collided with the bridge since its opening in 1883, this incident stands out as the first with fatalities reported. The Brooklyn Bridge, with a height that fluctuates due to tides, has been a concern for maritime navigators since its construction, prompting legal battles over ship clearance and safety, underscoring the enduring challenge it poses for seafaring vessels.
"That's the first and possibly only time where there's been a fatality onboard of a ship that struck the Brooklyn Bridge," said Dominique Jean-Louis, chief historian at the Center for Brooklyn History.
Historians say Saturday's crash appears to be the first boat collision with the bridge to take the lives of crew members. Two Mexican naval cadets died and more were injured after the training ship Cuauhtémoc's masts crashed into the bridge.
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