The collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore on March 26, 2024, was a tragic event that resonated across the nation and beyond. This disaster immediately raised critical questions, most urgently: how many people died in the Baltimore bridge collapse? This article provides a detailed account of the fatalities, the victims, and the ongoing recovery efforts following this devastating incident.
Authorities have confirmed the recovery of five bodies from the collapse site as of Wednesday, May 1, 2024. The fifth victim was identified as Miguel Angel Luna Gonzalez, a 49-year-old from Glen Burnie, Maryland, originally from El Salvador. Luna Gonzalez was one of six construction workers who were on the bridge repairing potholes when the massive cargo vessel Dali struck a support pillar, causing the bridge to crumble.
Image: Memorial image of Miguel Angel Luna Gonzalez, one of the construction workers who tragically lost his life in the Baltimore bridge collapse.
The Unified Command, consisting of the police, Coast Guard, and other government agencies, has been diligently working on the recovery operation. Colonel Roland L. Butler, Jr., Superintendent of Maryland’s State Police, stated that salvage teams located one of the missing construction vehicles, leading to the discovery of Luna Gonzalez’s body inside a red truck. This recovery marks a significant step in bringing closure to the families affected by this tragedy, although one victim remains missing.
The six workers who perished in the Baltimore bridge collapse were all immigrants, hailing from Honduras, El Salvador, Mexico, and Guatemala. They were part of a construction crew repairing potholes on the Francis Scott Key Bridge, a vital artery for approximately 30,000 Maryland commuters daily. The sudden and catastrophic nature of the collapse meant they had little to no warning.
Investigations into the Baltimore bridge collapse are currently underway to determine the exact cause of this incident. Both the FBI and the US Coast Guard are conducting a criminal investigation. Simultaneously, legal proceedings have begun. The owner of the cargo ship, Grace Ocean Private Limited, and its manager, Synergy Marine PTE LTD, have filed a petition to limit their liability payouts to $43.6 million. However, the city of Baltimore has initiated legal action to hold the responsible parties accountable for the disaster and its far-reaching consequences. Attorneys representing the families of the deceased and a surviving victim are also conducting independent investigations to ensure justice and support for those impacted.
The Baltimore bridge collapse is a stark reminder of the fragility of infrastructure and the human cost of such disasters. While five lives have been confirmed lost and their bodies recovered, the search continues for the sixth and final victim. The focus remains on providing support to the grieving families, understanding the full circumstances of the collapse, and ensuring accountability for this tragic event. The question of how many people died in the Baltimore bridge collapse currently stands at five confirmed fatalities, with ongoing efforts to recover the last missing individual and to learn from this catastrophe to prevent future tragedies.
