Early Wednesday, a tragic incident occurred near the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore involving a vehicle carrying two construction workers that was retrieved from the Patapsco River. This happened just before city authorities halted their search and recovery operations related to the bridge’s catastrophic failure. During a media briefing, Police Superintendent Col. Roland L. Butler Jr. confirmed that Maryland State Police divers discovered a submerged red pickup truck approximately 25 feet underwater near the bridge’s central span.
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The deceased workers were later identified as Alejandro Hernandez Fuentes, a 35-year-old resident of Baltimore originally from Mexico, and 26-year-old Dorlian Ronial Castillo Cabrera, originally from Guatemala, residing in Dundalk. According to the New York Post, the tragic discovery came in the wake of the bridge’s partial collapse, significantly hampered by a cargo ship’s collision with the structure. These two men were found among the six construction crew members who reported missing post-incident. They were believed to be taking a break inside their vehicle to stay warm when the disaster struck.
Search and rescue operations were halted after debris and collapsed concrete obstructed underwater pathways, making it difficult to locate the remaining vehicles. “We have reached the limits of our search capabilities in the vicinity of the wreckage,” stated Butler, believing that the remaining vehicles are entrapped within the bridge’s fallen concrete and structural components. Following the end of the search efforts, the focus has shifted towards preparing for a salvage mission to clear the debris. This is a necessary step before any further attempts can be made to recover the remaining cars and any victims.
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It is feared that the four missing workers from Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras, have lost their lives in the tragedy. The initial collision occurred during the night and is currently under investigation. It was noted that the ship had been experiencing engine troubles leading up to the incident. These issues resulted in a catastrophic loss of power, making the vessel uncontrollable and setting the stage for the unfortunate event.
Rear Admiral Shannon Gilreath of the US Coast Guard highlighted that no prior alerts were received regarding the ship’s condition. As investigations and salvage operations proceed, efforts are also underway to swiftly reestablish a navigational channel and plan the construction of a new bridge, aiming to mitigate the impact of this disaster.