Final missing body recovered in Baltimore bridge collapse

Salvage teams have recovered the sixth and final missing body of a construction worker killed in the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore, local authorities announced Tuesday.

The body of Jose Mainor López, 37, was discovered by salvage divers at the site of the bridge collapse on Tuesday. More than a month has passed since a cargo ship crashed into the bridge, sending its entire width into the Patapsco River, Unified Forces officials said. said in a statement Tuesday..

The diver called Maryland State Police, who alerted the family.

The cargo ship, known as the Dali, was able to issue a last-minute mayday call when the power went out on March 26, allowing police to stop traffic just before the collision. Mr. Lopez was one of eight construction workers who were unable to get off the bridge in time.

Two workers were rescued and survived, and the bodies of the remaining five victims were recovered in the following weeks.

“It is with heavy hearts that we honor our recovery efforts and the loved ones of the six workers who lost their lives in this tragic event,” said Col. Roland L. Butler Jr., Maryland State Superintendent. “This is an important turning point in bringing this to an end.” The state police department said in a statement:

Lopez was living in Baltimore at the time of the collapse after immigrating to the United States from Guatemala.

The Port of Baltimore and the area surrounding the collapse site are closed to most maritime traffic as crews carry out extensive clearing operations.

The Maryland Department of Transportation announced last week that repairs would cost between $1.7 billion and $1.9 billion, and estimated the rebuilding process would take just over four years.

Demolition workers are now preparing to use explosives as part of the cleanup effort, the Associated Press reported on Tuesday. The Dali crew will remain on board the stranded cargo ship while controlled demolition operations are carried out to destroy the remaining span of the collapsed bridge, the newswire added.