Bernd Debsmann Jr/BBC Information Because the solar rose in Baltimore on March 26, Maria del Carmen Castellón obtained information she was not anticipating: Her husband, Miguel Angel Lu Miguel Angel Luna Gonzalez disappeared within the chilly, darkish waters of the Patapsco River in Maryland.
“My husband’s son knocked on the door,” she recalled. “This was information I did not want I had for any spouse. At that second, I wanted I had wings so I may fly and save him.”
Luna, a 49-year-old father of three from El Salvador, is one in every of eight employees patching potholes on Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge when it was hit by a 948ft (289m) cargo ship – M/V Dali – Delivered an estimated 3,000 to 4,000 tons of particles into the channel under.
Six employees – all from Latin America – died within the bridge collapse.
Greater than 5 weeks had handed since Luna’s physique was found in early Could.
“That was the toughest day of my life,” Ms. Castellón stated. “It left a wound in my coronary heart that can by no means heal.”
Now, six months after the catastrophe, the households of three employees who died are suing transport firm Grace Marine Pty Ltd, saying their “negligence” and conduct straight led to the bridge’s collapse and the deaths of their family members.
“We’re combating for justice,” Ms. Castellón added in Spanish to reporters on the Baltimore workplace of Casa, an immigration-focused advocacy group. “Justice means stopping future tragedies.”
Getty PicturesWhereas the Nationwide Transportation Security Board (NTSB) is investigating the incident, a preliminary report launched in Could discovered that the Dali misplaced energy 4 instances in lower than 12 hours earlier than colliding with the Key Bridge.
“There’s quite a bit we do not know but,” stated Matthew Wessler, an legal professional representing the three households. “However in our view, [the repeated loss of power] The ship must be allowed to totally assess what went unsuitable and repair the issue.
Earlier this 12 months, Grace Ocean sought in federal courtroom to restrict its authorized publicity to the catastrophe.
A spokesperson for Grace Ocean instructed the BBC that claims from households had been “anticipated” however that the corporate “is not going to remark additional on the substance of any claims at the moment”.
The lawsuit is one in every of a number of confronted by Synergy and Grace Ocean following the accident.
Town of Baltimore and a few native enterprise house owners additionally sued the businesses, claiming the ship was unseaworthy when it set out in March.
Josie Flo Cleaning soap/CASAChatting with reporters in Baltimore on Tuesday, Ms. Castellón recalled that the day earlier than the accident, the couple went to see a rental property the place they hoped to open a small restaurant.
The 2 have teamed as much as construct a meals truck, with Luna serving to out outdoors of development work.
“As we regarded out the window, we talked a few future the place he would not should do a harmful job,” Ms. Castellón stated, crying. “These moments had been stuffed with laughter and love,” she added.
“However these goals had been shattered that morning after I misplaced him,” Ms. Castellón added.
That evening, when he went to work, he left her a letter and wrote “I really like you” on it.
“I take it to coronary heart now,” she added.
Attorneys and immigration advocates who work with the households stated in addition they hope the incident will spotlight the seriousness of the incident. Often dangerous but vital work – Immigration to the USA.
