Crime
Key Bridge Collapse: Recovery Efforts for Construction Worker Continue, Criminal Investigation Underway
The recovery of a fifth construction worker's body after a ship collision on Baltimore's Key Bridge, with ongoing salvage efforts and investigations by the FBI and NTSB. Tragic incident impacts Port of Baltimore.
2 min read
Originally published by nationnews.com (opens in new tab)
The body of a fifth construction worker has been recovered after a ship hit Baltimore’s Key Bridge in March, causing it to collapse.
Miguel Angel Luna Gonzalez, 49, was among six victims of the disaster.
Salvage teams found his missing truck as they continue their recovery work at their site.
The six men were all from El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras or Mexico, and worked for a Maryland-based contracting company.
In total, eight workers were on the Francis Scott Key Bridge on 26 March when it was struck by the Dali container vessel, plunging them into the waters below.
Two of them were rescued on the day and five bodies have been recovered since then. A search continues for the sixth.
Mr Luna was a husband and father from El Salvador who had lived in Maryland for nearly two decades, according to non-profit organisation Casa.
“Behind each person lost in this tragedy lies a loving family,” said Maryland police, commenting on the discovery of Mr Luna’s body in his vehicle.
The incident is the subject of a criminal investigation by the FBI, which is looking into the circumstances that led to the crash.
A separate probe is under way by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
Meanwhile, the city is suing the operators of the container ship, alleging that the vessel was “clearly unseaworthy”. The operators have already asked a court to limit their liability.
The bridge’s collapse led to the closure of the Port of Baltimore, one of the busiest in the US and a key hub for the transport of vehicles.
Four alternative channels have since been opened as the salvage operation continues.
The state governor will on Thursday meet a House of Representatives committee to discuss aid for rebuilding the collapsed bridge.
Apart from two of the ship’s pilots, 21 crew members – almost all of whom are of Indian origin – remain on the ship. There is no timeline yet for when they will disembark or head back to sea.
(BBC News)
