Eight immigrant workers were repairing potholes on the bridge overnight when it collapsed, leaving only two survivors. They had all come to the U.S. in search of job opportunities.
The six men who lost their lives were identified as José Mynor López, 37; Maynor Yasir Suazo-Sandoval, 34; Miguel Angel Luna Gonzalez, 49; Alejandro Hernandez Fuentes, 35; Carlos Daniel Hernandez Estrella, 24; and Dorlian Ronial Castillo Cabrera, 26.
On Tuesday, attorneys representing the victims’ families and the two survivors released a statement marking the one-year anniversary of the Dali cargo ship crash that caused the Francis Scott Key Bridge to collapse. They emphasized that the families of those killed are still mourning the tragic loss of their loved ones, while the two survivors continue to rebuild their lives.
The attorneys reaffirmed their commitment to an independent investigation into the disaster, aiming to uncover both the cause and those legally responsible. Their findings over the past year have reinforced what was suspected from the beginning: negligence by the Dali’s owners and operators led to both the deadly accident and the bridge’s destruction.
They also criticized the ship’s corporate owners for seeking legal protections to evade accountability instead of supporting the victims’ families—actions taken before all the workers’ bodies had even been recovered from the Patapsco River.
By May 2024, the remains of all six men were found and identified. Colonel Roland L. Butler, Jr., superintendent of the Maryland Department of State Police, reflected on their loss in a press conference, calling it a significant step toward closure for the grieving families. He honored the memory of the fallen workers, recognizing their tragic deaths.
