The recovery of the body of a third construction worker killed in the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse was completed by authorities. Divers found 38-year-old Maynor Yasir Suazo-Sandoval in the wreckage 11 days after the disaster, which claimed the lives of six workers who were repairing potholes on the bridge. The Superintendent of the Maryland Department of State Police, Colonel Roland L. Butler, Jr., expressed the challenge presented by the collapse and assured the families of the victims that they were fully committed to finding closure for each family.
Maynor Yasir Suazo-Sandoval was described as an avid fan of the soccer team F.C. Motagua and as someone who sent money back to Honduras to help his relatives. His family expressed relief that his body was finally found, as it was their main goal. The Baltimore Ravens and Baltimore Orioles announced a $10 million donation to the Baltimore Community Foundation’s Maryland Tough Baltimore Strong Key Bridge Fund, which will benefit families, port workers, first responders, and small businesses affected by the tragedy. Mayor Brandon Scott confirmed that Suazo-Sandoval was one of the workers who fell into the Patapsco River when the bridge collapsed due to a container ship losing power.
The bodies of two other construction workers were recovered from a submerged red pick-up truck near the middle span of the bridge, while the bodies of three others were still missing. Recovery crews were carefully removing the debris left by the collapse in order to find the remaining victims. The US Army Corps of Engineers acknowledged that the mission of recovering the bodies would be difficult due to the hostile water conditions. Divers were using sonar mapping to navigate the wreck and bring home the bodies of the victims as well as salvage what was left of the iconic bridge.
The owners of the ship, Synergy and Grace Ocean, filed a court petition seeking to limit their legal liability following the bridge collapse. This legal process is a routine procedure in cases litigated under US maritime law and a federal court in Maryland will ultimately decide who is responsible and determine the amount owed. The recovery efforts and the legal proceedings surrounding the collapse painted a grim picture of the tragedy and its aftermath. The support from the community, through donations and emotional solidarity, showed that the victims of the collapse will not be forgotten and that efforts will continue until all families receive closure.
