The sole survivor of the Baltimore Bridge disaster has recounted the harrowing moments as he watched pals and household fall to their deaths while he struggled for his existence. Julio Cervantes Shared his vibrant memories of the tragic occasion. In his first interview about the reason for the disaster, on March 26, the one hundred,000-ton cargo ship Dali collided with the Francis Scott Key Bridge, inflicting a catastrophic fall apart.
The Moment of Impact
Mr. Cervantes Suarez, 37, was one of seven maintenance workers repairing potholes on the bridge when the ship struck. The impact hurled his van off the bridge, plunging into the Patapsco River 180 feet (50 meters) below. As he plummeted, he prepared for death. “I thanked God for the family he gave me. I asked him to take care of my wife and kids. And I asked for forgiveness,” he said in an interview in Spanish.
A Desperate Escape
Trapped in the sinking vehicle, Mr. Cervantes Suarez struggled to open the doors as water rose to his neck. He controlled to pressure a window open, squeezing out simply before the van sank. Unable to swim, he clung to a wreckage and waited for rescue. “That’s after I found out what occurred. I looked at the bridge, and it was no longer there,” he said.
Witnessing the Tragedy
From the water, Mr. Cervantes Suarez saw his co-workers, some of whom were family, as the river engulfed them. “I started to call out to each by name,” he recalled. “But no one answered me.” His nephew, Carlos Daniel Hernández, was the first to fall. Hernández, who was in a car on the bridge, was told by Mr. Cervantes Suarez to take a break in the vehicle. Reflecting on this decision, he said, “If I had told him to come with me, maybe it would have been different. Maybe he would be here with us.”
The Victims
The other victims of the disaster were:
- José Mynor López, 37
- Maynor Suazo Sandoval, 38
- Dorlian Ronial Castillo Cabrera, 26
- José Lopez, 35
- Alejandro Hernández Fuentes, 35
Investigation and Legal Action
The Francis Scott Key Baltimore Bridge collapsed after the Dali lost power, veered off course, and smashed into the structure. Rescuers searched the waters for days to get better the bodies of all the victims. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are investigating the crash. A lawyer representing Mr. Cervantes Suarez and other victims told NBC that legal action against the Dali’s Singapore-based owner, Grace Ocean, is being considered.
Seeking Justice
Mr. Cervantes Suarez expressed his desire for those responsible to “pay” for the disaster, though he acknowledged that no compensation could replace the loss of his loved ones and co-workers. “I know that money is not going to buy a hug from a father or a son,” he said.
The tragic incident has left a memorable mark on Mr. Cervantes Suarez, who continues reliving the disaster’s moments and the loss of those he held dear.
