The sixth and last body of the Latino worker who died in the crash of Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge has been recovered, authorities announced.
The body belongs to José Mynor Lopez, a Guatemalan immigrant. The other workers who died are Alejandro Hernandez Fuentes, Dorlian Ronial Castillo Cabrera, Maynor Yasir Suazo-Sandoval, Carlos Daniel Hernandez Estrella and Miguel Angel Luna Gonzalez.
All of them died on March 26 when the Dali ship crashed into the bridge after losing control shortly after departing from the port. All those who fell from the bridge were presumed dead shortly after given the river's conditions and the amount of time that had passed since the crash.
"With heavy hearts, today marks a significant milestone in our recovery efforts and providing closure to the loved ones of the six workers who lost their lives in this tragic event," said Colonel Roland Butler, Jr., Superintendent of the Maryland Department of State Police.
Only two of the eight Latino migrant workers survived the crash. All of them hailed from Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras, and were filling potholes on the bridge in the early hours of March 26.
Nearly 40% of the construction workforce in the Washington region is made up of immigrants, according to CASA, an immigrant rights group based in Silver Spring, Maryland.
The FBI opened a criminal probe of the crash, with federal agents boarding the Dali ship on Monday with search warrants to conduct "court authorized law enforcement activity." The city of Baltimore also said that the owner and operator of the cargo vessel cannot evade responsibility.
Authorities said that Grace Ocean Private Ltd. and Synergy Marine Pte Ltd. knowingly launched an unseaworthy vessel into the water, calling the actions of these companies as "grossly negligent and potentially criminal."
Baltimore is insisting on a jury trial in the case, claiming that the companies' attempt to cap their liability for the vessel and cargo at $43.6 million falls significantly short of the expected claims for losses and damages.
According to CBS News, controlled explosives will be used to remove a large span of the bridge that still lies on top of the ship. Officials hope to refloat it by the end of the week. In the meantime, the city's transportation authority is set to hold a conference to discuss next steps for building a new bridge. The timeline for its opening is the fall of 2028 with an estimated cost of just under $2 billion.
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