Baltimore Key Bridge collapse: Criminal charges filed against Dali cargo ship operator

Federal prosecutors have filed criminal charges against the owner of the cargo ship Dali, two years after it struck Baltimore's Key Bridge, causing its collapse and killing six people. Synergy Marine, the company that operated the ship, along with one of its employees, has been charged with conspiracy, obstruction and misconduct resulting in death, among other offences. Prosecutors allege the company misled investigators about conditions on the ship and failed to disclose hazards and other safety concerns to the US Coast Guard. The company said it "will defend against these allegations with vigor". Separately, Synergy and Maryland settled a civil case over the collapse for $2.25bn (£1.7bn). "DOJ is criminalising a tragic accident," the company said in a statement to the BBC. "The allegations in the indictment are baseless and have nothing to do with the DALI's allision with the Francis Scott Key Bridge." Allision is a maritime law term for a vessel striking a stationary object, such as a bridge. In a statement on Tuesday, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said the collapse of the span was "a preventable tragedy of enormous consequence". "This indictment is a critical step toward