the welland canal. moments earlier, the great lakes freighter named "the wind dock" carrying about 26,000 pounds of wheat approaches the allenberg bridge. >> can it stop? >> no, a boat that size. >> oh, my gosh. oh! >> there's people in that top part, eh? >> just before 9:00 p.m. as the ship nears, the operator begins to lower the bridge too soon. the captain struggles to stop the ship frantically trying to get the bridge operator's attention. he drops anchor, but the ship's momentum makes a collision inevitable. >> there's guys up in that bridge. >> to the horror of those watching on the shore, the 730-foot-long freighter slams into the steel bridge. its upper deck completely tearing off. the crash first sheers off the smokestack, then the ship's wheelhouse with the captain still inside.