Relatives Died in Baltimore Bridge Collapse: Here’s Who They Blame

Baltimore – Nearly six months after a tragic incident involving a container ship and the Francis Scott Key Bridge, relatives of the workers who passed away in the collapse are taking steps against the ship’s owner. The cargo ship, Dali, lost power and crashed into a support column of the nearly 50-year-old bridge on March 26, resulting in a catastrophic failure that sent eight workers, who were performing maintenance, into the icy waters of the Patapsco River. Among them, two were rescued, while six lost their lives; all the victims were immigrants from Latin America.

The ship’s owner, Grace Ocean Private Limited, and its management, Synergy Marine Group, initiated a federal court petition in April to limit their liability from the disaster to the current value of the ship, estimated at $42.5 million. Experts have pointed out that if evidence indicates fault on the part of the shipowners, they may lose the opportunity to limit their liability.

Family members of the deceased workers have voiced their concerns regarding this limitation. Among them is Maria del Carmen Castellón, who lost her husband, Miguel Luna, aged 49. Castellón will attend a press conference alongside the families of two other victims, Dorlian Castillo Cabrera and Maynor Yasir Suazo-Sandoval, as noted by Jossie Flor Sapunar, a representative of CASA, the advocacy group organizing the event. The families plan to file a claim in federal court in Maryland before the September 24 deadline set by the court, coinciding with the six-month anniversary of the collapse, according to their attorney Matthew Wessler.

A preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board indicated that the Dali experienced power loss twice before departing from the Port of Baltimore. Wessler remarked that this should have raised alarms about potential issues with the ship. He asserted that the sequence of events suggests at least some negligence on the ship’s part, warranting rejection of the liability limitation.

The decision on whether the ship’s owners can limit their liability ultimately lies with a federal judge. Wessler expressed hope that the case will proceed to trial, allowing a jury to determine appropriate monetary compensation for the families affected by the tragic loss of six lives.

Synergy Marine Group has not publicly commented in advance of the families’ claim. The bridge collapse not only sparked grief within the local Latino community but also ignited calls for improved protections for millions of undocumented migrant workers across the nation. During the press conference, the families intend to renew their demands for essential policy changes that would safeguard construction workers, many of whom are immigrants.

Castellón is expected to share her personal story about the loss of her husband, who was employed in construction at Brawner Builders. Originally from El Salvador, the couple had dreams of expanding Castellón’s food truck business into a permanent restaurant, having visited a potential site just the day before the bridge accident.

The limited liability claim filed by Grace Ocean Private Limited and Synergy Marine Group aimed to shield them from future compensation claims related to the bridge collapse. In response, Baltimore’s mayor and city council filed a court declaration mentioning that weather conditions were calm and there was no justification to anticipate the bridge’s failure. They further accused the companies of criminal negligence for permitting the vessel to leave port with inconsistent power.

Officials emphasized that the incident had a detrimental impact on the city’s economy, causing significant disruption. The mayor and city officials oppose allowing the ship owners to limit their liability.

Meanwhile, investigations into the collision are being conducted by the National Transportation Safety Board, in conjunction with a federal criminal inquiry led by the FBI concerning the bridge’s collapse.

Source: Reuters