DOJ sues owner, operator of vessel that hit Francis Scott Key Bridge for $100 million

The U.S. Department of Justice sued the owner and operator of the vessel that hit Francis Scott Key Bridge on Wednesday for $100 million in May.

“The Justice Department is committed to ensuring accountability for those responsible for the destruction of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, which resulted in the tragic deaths of six people and disrupted our country’s transportation and defense infrastructure,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland in a statement. 

“With this civil claim, the Justice Department is working to ensure that the costs of clearing the channel and reopening the Port of Baltimore are borne by the companies that caused the crash, not by the American taxpayer,” he added.

DOJ estimated that the U.S. government response to the accident cost $100 million, which doesn't include repair costs for the physical damage to the bridge or the state's response to the crash.