The body of the last construction worker missing in the collapse of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge in March has been found, authorities said Tuesday, but demolition crews have recovered explosives during ongoing removal efforts. was preparing to use it.
Officials said Dali’s crew will remain on board the stranded container ship while they carry out a controlled dismantling operation to destroy the largest remaining span of the collapsed bridge.
On March 26, the Dali lost power and the steel span landed on its bow after colliding with one of the bridge supports. The ship has been stuck in the wreckage ever since, and Baltimore’s busy port has been closed to most maritime traffic.
Six construction workers were killed in the collapse. The body of Jose Mainor López, 37, was recovered on Tuesday, officials said in a statement that evening. The victims, all Latino immigrants, were working night shifts filling holes in bridges. Officers were able to stop traffic just before the collapse, but there was not enough time to alert workers.
Lopez immigrated to the United States from Guatemala. Last month, mourners used a crane to raise a Guatemalan flag at a vigil for the victims whose family is still waiting for closure.
Officials said salvage crews discovered the body and notified state authorities.
“It is with heavy hearts that we honor today our recovery efforts and the loved ones of the six officers who lost their lives in this tragic incident,” Maryland State Police Superintendent Col. Roland Butler Jr. said in a statement. “This is an important turning point in bringing this to an end.” .
A controlled dismantling, scheduled to take place in the coming days, will allow the Dali to be refloated and guided to the Port of Baltimore, officials said. Once the ship is removed, maritime traffic could begin to return to normal, providing relief to thousands of longshoremen, truck drivers and small business owners whose jobs have been affected by the closure. .
Officials had previously said they hoped to clear the Dali River by May 10 and reopen the port’s 50-foot (15.2-meter) main waterway by the end of May.
Coast Guard Petty Officer Ronald Hodges said Dali’s 21-member crew will remain in place on the ship until the explosives detonate.
Engineers have been working for weeks to determine the best way to remove the last major section of the collapsed bridge. The explosives tumble into the water. A huge hydraulic grabber then lifts the resulting section of steel onto a barge.
Video footage released by Coast Guard officials last week showed a section of the road sitting on the ship’s deck.
Hodges said the safety of the crew is a top concern as authorities consider whether they should remain on the ship during dismantling. He said engineers are using precision cuts to control truss failure.
“No one wants anything to happen to the crew,” Hodges said.
The crew has not been allowed to leave Dali since the accident. Officials said they were busy maintaining the ship and assisting investigators. Twenty of the crew members are Indian and one is Sri Lankan.
A spokesperson for the crew did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment Tuesday afternoon.
The National Transportation Safety Board and FBI are investigating the bridge collapse.
Danish shipping giant Maersk chartered the Dali for a trip from Baltimore to Sri Lanka, but the ship didn’t go very far. The crew reported losing power and losing control of the steering system. A few minutes later, the ship crashed into a bridge.
Officials said the safety board’s investigation will focus on the ship’s electrical systems, including whether there were power problems before it left Baltimore.
Maryland state leaders announced last week that they plan to rebuild the bridge by fall 2028.
