BODY OF MAYNOR YASIR SUAZO-SANDOVAL RECOVERED FROM BRIDGE WRECKAGE

The dive teams have recovered the body of a missing person at the Key Bridge incident site in Baltimore, at approximately 10:30 a.m., April 5, 2024.

The recovered individual was identified as 38-year-old Maynor Yasir Suazo-Sandoval. 

Unified Command salvage dive teams located what they believed to be the missing construction worker and notified the Maryland Department of State Police. Maryland State Police Underwater Recovery Team deployed in coordination with dive teams from allied law enforcement partners and recovered Suazo-Sandoval.

Maryland State Police investigators, along with an FBI Victim Specialist, Baltimore County Critical Response Team, Governor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs met with and notified Suazo-Sandoval’s family.

“The collapse of the Key Bridge is undoubtedly one of the most challenging tragedies we have faced as a law enforcement agency. Along with our local, state and federal public safety partners, we will not give up,”  said Colonel Roland L. Butler, Jr., Superintendent of the Maryland Department of State Police. “There are families still waiting to hear if we have found their loved one.  I can promise you, we are fully committed to finding closure for each of these families,” he said. 

QUAKING NEWS!!!!

HERE HE COMES TO SAVE THE DAY; IT’S BIDEN ON THE WAY WITH WES MOORE TO GRAB THE SPOTLIGHT OF THE CAMERAS….wait….there’s been an earthquake…will the press conference be canceled… there’s a 43 percent chance of another tremor after a 4.8 quake hit the northeast.

DIVERS BACK AT WORK EXAMINING WRECKAGE OF KEY BRIDGE AND CONTINUING SEARCH FOR MISSING HIGHWAY WORKERS WHO VANISHED DURING COLLAPSE

Divers operating with the Key Bridge Response 2024 Unified Command conduct dive operations at the wreckage site of the M/V DALI and the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, April 4, 2024. These divers conduct surveys beneath the surface of the water to provide the Unified Command with information on the underwater wreckage. (Key Bridge Response 2024 Unified Command video by U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer 3rd Class Omar Faba)

Coast Guard Admiral: “We are waiting for the weather to improve to begin offloading containers from the Dali. Eight commercial tugs and barges have now transited through the new channels.”

A second temporary alternate channel opens around the Key Bridge wreckage for commercially essential vessels.

BALTIMORE—The Captain of the Port (COTP) established a second temporary alternate channel on the southwest side of the main channel near Hawkins Point, near the Francis Scott Key Bridge, for commercially essential vessels.

This action is part of a phased approach to opening the main channel. The second temporary channel is marked with Coast Guard-lighted aids to navigation and will be limited to transit at the discretion of the COTP and during daylight hours only. It has a controlling depth of 14 feet, a 280-foot horizontal clearance, and a 124-foot vertical clearance.

“The opening of these two alternate channels and transit of critical response resources, as well as the first commercial traffic movements through the area, is a significant milestone in our response efforts,” said U.S. Coast Guard Cmdr. Baxter Smoak, operations section chief of the Key Bridge Response 2024. “Our number one priority remains the opening of the deep draft channel. We are simultaneously focused on opening additional routes of increased capacity as we move forward.”

The first vessel passes through the small channel in Baltimore Harbor to allow essential traffic.

BALTIMORE—At 3 p.m. April 1, 2024, the tugboat Crystal Coast, pushing a fuel barge, transited the temporary alternate channel created by the Key Bridge Response Unified Command. It is the first vessel to use the channel since the bridge collapsed into the federal waterway on Tuesday.

The barge is used to supply jet fuel to the Department of Defense (DOD) and was transiting to Dover Air Force Base.

The Captain of the Port (COPT) established a temporary alternate channel near Sollers Point for commercially essential vessels. The temporary channel is on the northeast side of the main ship channel near the Francis Scott Key Bridge. This action is part of a phased approach to opening the main federal channel.

This new temporary channel is marked with government-lighted aids to navigation. Transit will be limited at the discretion of the COTP and will be during daylight hours only. This temporary channel has a controlling depth of 11 feet, a 264-foot horizontal clearance, and a 95-foot vertical clearance.

The Unified Command is working to establish a second, temporary alternate channel on the southwest side of the main channel. This second channel will allow for deeper draft vessels with an anticipated draft restriction of 15 to 16 feet.

Two crane barges, a 650-ton crane and a 330-ton crane, are actively working on the scene. As daylight allows, the wreckage will continue to be lifted and transferred to a barge.

A 230-ton land-based crane will offload and process the wreckage at Tradepoint Atlantic, which will then be taken to a disposal site.

The current 2,000-yard safety zone around the Francis Scott Key Bridge remains in effect and is

intended to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment. Members of the public may not enter the safety zone unless authorized by the COTP or designated representative. Those in the safety zone must comply with all lawful orders or directions given to them by the COTP or designated representative.

THE COST IS GONNA BE BILLIONS, AND THAT DOESN’T INCLUDE THE graft for the grifters of Maryland politics. If the Clintons come to town to put on a fundraiser for out-of-work port employees, it’ll be WOWSA. Just ask Haiti how it worked for them. Watch this:

A Maryland Natural Resources Police officer conducts an overflight assessment of the M/V Dali, a 948-foot Singapore-flagged container ship, and Francis Scott Key Bridge in the Patapsco River in Baltimore, Maryland, March 30, 2024. The Unified Command continues to coordinate response operations for the Francis Scott Key Bridge while safeguarding the welfare of both the public and first responders. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Kimberly Reaves)

The M/V Dali is shown with the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge on March 30, 2024, in Baltimore. The Key Bridge Response Unified Command priorities are ensuring the safety of the public and first responders, accountability of missing persons, safely restoring transportation infrastructure and commerce, protecting the environment, and supporting the investigation. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Kimberly Reaves)

 Unified Command prepares for the opening of the temporary alternate channel around Key Bridge wreckage for commercially essential vessels.

Sunday, March 31, 2024

BALTIMORE—The Captain of the Port (COTP) is preparing to establish a temporary alternate channel for commercially essential vessels on the northeast side of the main channel near the Francis Scott Key Bridge.

“This will mark an important first step along the road to reopening the port of Baltimore,” said Capt. David O’Connell, Federal On-Scene Coordinator, Key Bridge Response 2024. “By opening this alternate route, we will support the flow of marine traffic into Baltimore.”

This action is part of a phased approach to opening the main channel. The temporary channel will be marked with government-lighted aids to navigation and will have a controlling depth of 11 feet, a 264-foot horizontal clearance, and vertical clearance of 96 feet.

The current 2,000-yard safety zone around the Francis Scott Key Bridge remains in effect and is intended to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment. No vessel or person will be permitted to enter the safety zone without obtaining permission from the COTP or a designated representative.

The COTP will issue a Broadcast Notice to Mariners (BNM) via VHF-FM marine channel 16. Mariners are requested to monitor the VHF channel 16 for the latest information.

Members of the public may not enter the safety zone unless authorized by the COTP or designated representative. Those in the safety zone must comply with all lawful orders or directions given to them by the COTP or designated representative.

 

Demolition crews with the Unified Command began cutting the top portion of the north side of the collapsed bridge into smaller sections for safe removal by crane in the Patapsco River in Baltimore, Maryland, on March 30, 2024. Salvage teams use an exothermic cutting torch to systematically separate sections of the steel bridge, which will be taken to a disposal site. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Taylor Bacon)

A Coast Guard Station Crisfield 29-foot Response Boat-Small crew observes as highly trained demolition crews cut the top portion of the north side of the collapsed bridge into smaller sections for safe removal by crane in the Patapsco River, in Baltimore, Maryland, March 30, 2024. Salvage teams used an exothermic cutting torch to systematically separate sections of the steel bridge, which will be taken to a disposal site. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Kimberly Reaves)

Demolition crews with the Unified Command begin cutting the top portion of the north side of the collapsed bridge into smaller sections for safe removal by crane in the Patapsco River in Baltimore, Maryland, on March 30, 2024. Salvage teams use an exothermic cutting torch to systematically separate sections of the steel bridge, which will be taken to a disposal site. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Taylor Bacon)

Barge cranes are shown near the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge on the Patapsco River in Baltimore, Maryland, on March 30, 2024. The Key Bridge Response Unified Command priorities are ensuring the safety of the public and first responders, accountability of missing persons, safely restoring transportation infrastructure and commerce, protecting the environment, and supporting the investigation. (U.S. Coast Guard photos by Petty Officer 2nd Class Taylor Bacon)

Responders with the Unified Command shift containment boom near the M/V Dali in the Patapsco River, in Baltimore, Maryland, March 30, 2024. The Key Bridge Response Unified Command priorities are ensuring the safety of the public and first responders, accountability of missing persons, safely restoring transportation infrastructure and commerce, protecting the environment, and supporting the investigation. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Taylor Bacon)

Unified Command continues bridge wreckage removal for Key Bridge Response 2024

BALTIMORE, MD. (Sunday, March 31, 2024) – The Unified Command continues cutting operations Sunday to remove wreckage from the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse.

Demolition crews continue to cut portions of the north side of the collapsed bridge truss. Two crane barges, a 650-ton crane and a 330-ton crane, are actively working on scene. The removed wreckage is being lifted and transferred to a barge as daylight allows. A 230-ton land-based crane will offload and process the wreckage at Tradepoint Atlantic. Every lifting operation requires engineering analysis to inform salvage operation plans.   

BGE has reduced pressure of the underwater natural gas pipeline to 35psi. The pipeline spans the width of the channel and runs under the incident site. The Unified Command is continuing to coordinate with BGE to inert the pipeline to free it from hazards and risk.

Three dive teams with the Unified Command are surveying sections of the bridge and the M/V Dali for future removal operations.

A Debris Reporting Hotline has been established. If the public encounters any debris from the incident, please contact +1 (410) 205-6625.

The Key Bridge Response 2024 Unified Command includes the: 

• U.S. Coast Guard  
• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
• Maryland Department of the Environment  
• Maryland Transportation Authority 
• Witt O’Brien’s representing Synergy Marine
• Maryland State Police 

Del. Todd Morgan reports on verified fundraising pages for road workers killed in the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge.

The collapse of the Key Bridge over the Patapsco River this week was incredibly devastating. I still cannot believe it happened and so fast. We lost 6 lives in this senseless accident. The impact of this disaster will be very significant to Maryland’s economy. The Port of Baltimore brings in $ 15 million a day and pays $ 400 million a year in taxes. We can expect the fallout to include unemployment, supply chain issues, financial impacts on small businesses, further Transportation Trust Fund deficits, and more. The greatest commodity coming through the port is motor vehicles. This may affect your ability to buy or rent a car in the mid-Atlantic region. The state’s plan to move forward is in the early stages. We are only beginning to review what this means for the Port and the impact it will have on Maryland.

In order to assist families who will be out of work, due to the closure of the Port of Baltimore to ships, the House of Delegates has introduced HB1526 as emergency legislation. At the time of writing this newsletter, the bill is not yet available online for me to share with you the link and details. I will have to do that next week.

In honor of those who died in the collapse of the Key Bridge and their families, several GoFundMe pages have been set up. The ones below have been verified as legitimate and sent to legislators for distribution. If you are interested in contributing, please consider one of these or be sure to verify the source.

• Brawner Builders Inc. started this fundraiser to raise money for the Brawner employees who were on the bridge. GoFundMe.org is supporting this one and will manage the distribution of funds to the victims and/or their families.
• LULAC Institute Inc. has started this fundraiser to support the families affected.
• This is a verified fundraiser for the family of Jose Mynor Lopez. It was started by Josue Latorre, the owner of a small family business and employer of Isabel Franco, Jose’s wife.
• This is the verified fundraiser for the family of Maynor Suazo Sandoval. It was started by Christopher Heller, a friend of the family.

A barge rammed into the Severn River Bridge after traffic was halted by Maryland State Police.

This barge is under tow into Baltimore Harbor at the start of a workday in June of 2014.
THE CHESAPEAKE TODAY photo.

A similar barge was the star of this story from ten years ago, giving new meaning to Beware of the Ides of March. Traffic Reopened After Unmanned Barge Hit Bridge
(Annapolis, MD) – March 14, 2006 — Maryland State Police stopped all six lanes of traffic on US Route 50 at the Severn River Bridge when a barge carrying boulders and construction materials struck the support pylons.
Shortly after 9:00 a.m., the US Coast Guard alerted troopers at the Annapolis Barrack that a one-hundred-foot-long barge had broken loose from its moorings and was floating toward a collision with the bridge. Ten minutes after troopers had stopped traffic and thirteen minutes after the initial warning was received, the barge struck and became wedged against the bridge’s concrete and steel support pillars.
A combination of the river’s current and strong winds eventually moved the barge away from the pillars and caused it to begin to float further south in the river. The Coast Guard secured the barge to prevent further drifting. Following the arrival of two tugboats, the barge, belonging to the Langenfelder Marine Company, was towed to a location in Annapolis for further inspection.
Bridge inspectors from the State Highway Administration arrived and were taken to the scene of the collision in a boat.
An examination of the support pillars determined that the bridge was safe for vehicular traffic, and at 12:45 p.m., the highway was reopened.
Traffic, reportedly backed up for approximately 5 miles in each direction, was detoured onto Route 450 and Route 2. No injuries were reported following the barge’s collision with the bridge, and no collisions were reported during the incident.
The Maryland State Police Helicopter Trooper-6 hovered near the scene and assisted in the deployment and positioning of the more than 40 troopers present.
The US Coast Guard, Anne Arundel County Police, Annapolis City Police, US Naval Academy Police, Maryland State
Highway Administration and members of the US Secret Service assisted during the incident. See more of life on the Chesapeake and around the region. http://amzn.to/1LKwouR 

When the Francis Scott Key Bridge opened in 1977, Gov. Marvin Mandel was fighting to stay out of prison. Eventually, the Court of Appeals overturned his conviction, letting him serve the final three days of his term of office. Steny Hoyer was President of the Maryland Senate and the running mate for Acting Governor Blair Lee III in the 1978 Democratic Primary. The Lee-Hoyer ticket lost to Governor Harry Hughes.

The Baltimore Sun reported on March 23, 1977, that the Key Bridge opened and completed the Baltimore Beltway, which began 23 years earlier.

Cost overruns for Key Bridge in 1979

Today, during the middle of the third inning of the Baltimore Orioles Opening Day game, Maryland Transportation Authority Police officers were honored for their bravery during the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge.

SGT Pastorek, CPL Herbert, and Officer Kirts are Maryland heroes. Their courage, bravery, and quick thinking saved lives.

They’ve dedicated their careers to protecting the public – and Maryland is deeply grateful that they’ve raised their hands to serve.

The Office of the Maryland State Fire Marshall Special Operations Division’s Underwater Hazardous Device Team worked with our partners at the Maryland State Police Dive Team during the FSK bridge collapse. Together, they deployed an underwater ROV during the intense search and rescue efforts. This unprecedented operation brought teams from across Maryland that had never worked together as one unit with one goal. As the incident moves into the recovery phase/salvage operation, our UHDT will continue to work with our federal, state, and local partners. #KeyBridge #MDStrong

Statement from Brawner Brothers

This is a very sad time for Brawner Builders.
At 1:40 AM on March 26, 2024, a massive container ship struck the Key Bridge in Baltimore Harbor, causing its sudden collapse.
A Brawner Builders work crew was doing bridge maintenance work on the surface of the bridge at that time.
I, Jack Murphy, the owner of Brawner Builders, and other senior personnel have met with each and every family of our very valued and loved employees who have perished in this tragedy.
Highway workers are engaged in one of the most dangerous occupations in the United States, and they go out every day on our highways to make things better for everyone.
Safety has always been a prime consideration for our workers, and we have always taken every step necessary to provide safety for our workers in this dangerous occupation.
Typically, this includes what you are familiar with cones, signs, lights, barriers, and everything you see on the highways to protect our workers as they do their jobs.
Unfortunately, this tragic event was completely unforeseen and was not something that we could imagine would happen.
Our company is mourning the loss of these fine people. But of course, our sense of loss cannot in any way compare to what their families are feeling.
As for the one individual hospitalized, we pray for a full recovery. For those who have perished in this tragedy, our prayers are with them and their families.

The Maryland State Police – Aviation Command deployed multiple aircraft in the initial response to the Key Bridge collapse and will continue to commit assets, personnel, and expertise in coordination with our local, state, and federal partners. It is in moments like these that Maryland’s integrated emergency response system shines. Our thoughts are with those directly impacted and the multitude of emergency responders involved.

Will Replacement Key Bridge
Have Nets to Stop Suicides?

CHESAPEAKE BAY BRIDGE STUDY September 2023 Open Houses
Open House Survey Summary 8
Question 2: Are there community events or other activities that you’d like the MDTA Bay Crossing Tier 2 Study team to participate in?
37. My name is [Name Redacted], I lost my sister [Name Redacted], 28, to suicide by gunshot in 1991. No one discussed the s word at that time. That is when my mission began to educate and save lives, especially with young people. I became a public speaker, activist, founder of SPEAK (Suicide Prevention, Education, Awareness for Kids), and Nationally and Internationally known in the area of suicide prevention, bullying, depression/mental health, etc. In the past, I have worked closely with The Maryland Transportation Authority, Cheryl Sparks, and Secretary Armstrong, whom my father knew personally. My father was nationally and internationally known for building tunnels and bridges, such as the Francis Scott Key Bridge. He won an award before he passed away at age 57, and he accomplished so much in a short period of time. His grave faces the Francis Scott Key Bridge from a distance, and that is where I got my vision of phones being placed on his bridge and others to save lives. It was Secretary Armstrong who first helped me get phones placed on The Chesapeake Bay and The Francis Scott Key Bridges, which came to fruition. After Secretary Armstrong retired, I began working closely with Secretary Ron Freeland, whom I thought the world of and gave him recent updates on the phones. I expressed during one meeting in 2001 with Secretary Freeland and others that my first wish for their bridges was barriers or netting. I was way ahead of time and Maryland could have been the first in the US to use netting and/or barriers on their bridges, and others could have followed MD’s footsteps. But Mr. Secretary explained that the bridges were older and they could not hold the weight of the barriers or netting, it would be to heavy with vehicles on the bridges. He also did not want to change the aesthetic of the bridges. That is why the phones were a perfect option. He also asked me if there were anything else I would like to see on the bridges. I suggested to Mr. Secretary that they put cameras on the bridges, and he agreed that it was a great idea, and it was done. I also discussed people’s fear/anxiety of people driving across The Chesapeake Bay Bridge, and they needed to get someone to drive people across the bridge to make sure everyone was safe. That also was completed. I also worked with police officers from many bridges in the US, including The Sunshine Skyway Bridge, The Golden Gate Bridge, etc. The head policeman from The Delaware Memorial Bridge helped me most. He met with the police of The Chesapeake Bay Bridge to discuss the way they were handling suicides on their bridges. The Delaware police used the buoy system to locate jumpers’ bodies, both alive and dead, after a jumping. It is important to do everything possible to find the bodies for the family to have closure. Unfortunately, some families never do. The police also discussed their emergency phone system as well on their bridges and gave their expertise in the area of suicide prevention to your police and how to move forward. Today, twenty-some years later, the phones still remain on The Chesapeake Bay and The Francis Scott Key Bridges, saving lives. With plans of building the new Chesapeake Bay Bridges, NETTING should be the first option placed on these new bridges to save lives. The phones should also remain for people in crisis; some may not own a cell phone, or someone thinking of jumping off the bridge may see the phone on the bridge and could change their mind, seeing it as their last hope. There should be more positive information posted on the bridges/signage, etc., as you enter the bridges, close to the crest of the bridges, and by each phone a sign with information for people to see. Jumpers tend to go to the crest of the bridges to jump. Unfortunately, with all my knowledge through the years, I am not in agreement with pedestrian and cyclist traffic on the new Chesapeake Bay Bridges due to the possibility of a higher rate of suicide and car accidents. Today, The Golden Gate Bridge, which has high foot traffic, is placing netting on their bridge, as I write, due to a significantly increased number of suicides and attempted suicides. Hopefully, you will consider my suggestions when designing our new bridges to keep people safe. Sincerely,

The Politicians have their PR guy tweeting out how Gov. Wes Moore and Mayor Brandon are taking long walks together along Baltimore Harbor, dreaming about how much money they’ll get from taxpayers to spread around to their friends and supporters as funds explode from the treasury to rebuild the bridge.

.@GovWesMoore pausing for a moment when approaching the damage from the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge. pic.twitter.com/JJkX5X5qFe

— Carter Elliott, IV (@CarterElliottIV) March 26, 2024

Shipping is stacking up south of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, as eleven ships (green dots) are waiting to enter the Port of Baltimore on March 26, 2024.

Multiple intel sources: Baltimore bridge collapse was an “absolutely brilliant strategic attack” on US critical infrastructure – most likely cyber – & our intel agencies know it. In information warfare terms, they just divided the US along the Mason Dixon line exactly like the…

— Lara Logan (@laralogan) March 26, 2024

Carnival relocates to Norfolk and will bus current passengers from Norfolk back to Baltimore on March 31

Carnival Cruise Line said today that while rescue and remediation efforts continue in Baltimore Harbor following the collapse of the Key Bridge, it will temporarily move Carnival Legend’s Baltimore operations to Norfolk, Virginia.  

Carnival Legend is scheduled to return from its current voyage on Sunday, March 31. It will now return to Norfolk on Sunday, and guests will be provided complimentary bus service back to Baltimore. Carnival Legend’s next seven-day itinerary on March 31 will then operate from and return to Norfolk. Guests on the current and upcoming cruises are being informed of this change. 

“Our thoughts remain with the impacted families and first responders in Baltimore,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. “We appreciate the pledge made by President Biden today to dedicate all available resources to reopen Baltimore Harbor to marine traffic as soon as possible. As those plans are finalized, we will update our future cruise guests on when we will return home to Baltimore, but in the meantime, we appreciate the quick response and support from officials in Norfolk.” 

Mayor Brandon Scott lectured reporters about how to report on the Key Bridge Disaster…” stop showing the video of the bridge; you are traumatizing the community.” Next, Brandon will want reports on violent crime, failing schools, and daily carjackings to stop, too…

Joe Biden says he took the train across Key Bridge many times, but there is no rail access over the bridge.

Biden says he took the “train” over the Francis Scott Key Bridge “many many times” during commutes. The bridge did not have rail lines.

pic.twitter.com/0EyROM06Ma

— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) March 26, 2024

Jet Blast Owner Tim Wilson Got 18 Months of Home Detention in a 2015 Double-Fatal Crash into Key Bridge After a Night of Bar-hopping by Boat