Families of Key Bridge victims sue ship company

BALTIMORE — Surrounded by family, Maria Del Carmen Castellon recalled what she said was the worst day of her life.

Her husband, Miguel Luna was one of the eight workers who were on the Baltimore Key Bridge when it collapsed in March.

Only two of the eight men survived. All six who died were Latin American immigrant workers who had lived in the US for years, including Luna, who was remembered as a husband, father, grandfather and son. 

Castellon told WUSA9 during a press conference on Tuesday, she and Luna were planning on carrying out their longtime dream of expanding their food truck business into a restaurant.

She said they were visiting a commercial space for their business expansion just one day before the tragedy.

On Tuesday, the families of Miguel Luna, Jose Mynor Lopez, and Dorlian Castillo Cabrera announced they were suing Grace Ocean Private Ltd., the Singapore based company that owns the Dali, the ship the crashed into the Key Bridge.

Despite an FBI investigation underway, CASA, the organization helping families said the ship’s operator has been avoiding accountability.

“Just a week after the accident they went to court to reduce and limit the responsibility- they hired a company to change legislation that protects the workers-totally unacceptable.” Gustavo Torres, CASA Director, said. 

Castellon said  the last time she saw her husband, was that same night. He was on his way to work and stopped by to see her at their food truck. She told WUSA9 she noticed he had a picture of them as his screensaver. A memory she said she will always keep and share with his children and grandchildren.

If approved by the Federal District Court in Maryland, the suit could allow the victims' families to request and obtain monetary compensation for the deaths of their loved ones.