Salvage teams found the sixth and final missing body of a construction worker who died in the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore. Local officials announced this on Tuesday.
Salvage divers found José Mynor López, 37, at the bridge collapse scene more than a month after a cargo ship crashed into the bridge, causing part of the bridge to fall into the Patapsco River, according to Unified Command officials as stated in a Tuesday announcement.
The Maryland State Police were informed by the divers, who then notified his family.
The cargo ship, named the Dali, managed to send out a distress call when it lost power on March 26, allowing police to stop traffic just before the collision. López was one of eight construction workers who couldn't get off the bridge in time.
Two workers were saved and survived, and the bodies of the other five victims were recovered in the following weeks.
“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 Col. Roland L. Butler, Jr., superintendent of the Maryland Department of State Police, in a statement with heavy hearts.
López was living in Baltimore at the time of the collapse after relocating to the U.S. from Guatemala.
The Port of Baltimore and the area around the collapse has been closed to most maritime traffic as crews work on the extensive cleanup.
The Maryland Department of Transportation mentioned last week that the repair expenses will be between $1.7 billion and $1.9 billion and estimated the rebuilding process will take just over four years.
Crews preparing for the cleanup are now getting ready to use explosives, The Associated Press reported on Tuesday. The crew of the Dali will remain on the grounded cargo ship as the controlled demolition breaks down the remaining portion of the collapsed bridge, stated the news wire.
