Following the collapse of Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge, six workers who went missing are now presumed dead, shifting the focus to supporting their families.
Reports indicate that the workers, who were employed by Brawner Builders, a general contractor in Hunt Valley, Maryland, had company-sponsored life insurance. While specific details about the policies were not disclosed, the company is actively working to assist the families during this difficult time. In addition, a GoFundMe campaign has been launched with the goal of raising $60,000 to aid the survivors.
"The company is fully committed to providing support, counseling, and companionship to the affected families," stated Jeffrey Pritzker, executive vice president of Brawner Builders.
The six men were carrying out pothole repairs on the bridge's center span when a massive cargo ship collided with the structure early Tuesday morning. Originally from El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico, these workers were residing with their families in Dundalk and Highlandtown, Maryland.
As of now, three of the missing workers have been identified.
- Maynor Yassir Suazo Sandoval, originally from Honduras and who has been living in the U.S. for 20 years
- Miguel Luna, originally from El Salvador
- Dorlian Castillo Cabrera, originally from Guatemala
Sandoval, 38, was the youngest of eight siblings from Azacualpa, a rural mountainous area in northwestern Honduras. He had worked as an industrial technician in Honduras, repairing equipment in the large assembly plants, but the pay was too low to get ahead, one of his brothers, Martín Suazo Sandoval, told the Associated Press Wednesday.
"He always dreamed of having his own business," he said.
Another brother, Carlos Suazo Sandoval, said Maynor hoped to retire one day back in Guatamala.
"He was the baby for all of us, the youngest. He was someone who was always happy, was always thinking about the future. He was a visionary," he told the AP by phone Wednesday from Dundalk, Maryland, near the site of the bridge collapse.
Brawner intends to offer financial assistance to the missing workers' families as they cope with the sudden loss of income, Pritzker said, without providing additional details on the company's plans.
"They had families, spouses and children, and they were wonderful people who now are lost," he said, describing the contractor as a tight-knit business where other employees were "very close" to the missing workers.
"The company is broken," Pritzker added.
In a statement on Brawner's website, company owner Jack Murphy wrote that highway construction work is one of the most dangerous occupations in the U.S.
He expressed, "Construction workers are out on our highways every day to improve things for everyone. Sadly, this tragic incident was completely unexpected and not something we could have foreseen."
During highway projects, Brawner always opts for employing workers instead of contractors, according to Pritzker. However, the company occasionally undertakes other ventures like school construction that necessitate hiring subcontractors.
The Latino Racial Justice Circle, an advocacy group combating racial injustice, organized a GoFundMe campaign for the families of the missing workers. By Wednesday afternoon, the campaign had amassed over $58,000 in donations. Brawner Builders is endorsing the GoFundMe on its website, guiding those willing to support the families to the fundraising initiative.
Pritzker mentioned, "There will be numerous other forms of assistance provided to the families due to this tragedy," without elaborating further. "Nevertheless, it can never replace the loss of their loved ones."
—The Associated Press contributed to this report
