Lone Survivor of Baltimore Bridge Collapse Reveals How He Escaped Death and Lives with Guilt

The sole survivor of the March 26 bridge collapse shares the haunting reality of his escape and the guilt of losing loved ones in a tragedy that broke families and shook an entire city.

Julio Cervantes Suarez has recounted his harrowing ordeal and the deep guilt he feels over the loss of his coworkers and family. Speaking for the first time on NBC on July 11 to Tom Llamas, Cervantes Suarez detailed the events of that tragic day.

On March 26, a 100,000-ton cargo ship, The Dali, owned by Grace Ocean Private Ltd., reportedly crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge, causing it to collapse into the Patapsco River.

Cervantes Suarez was among seven workers repairing the bridge when it fell. He was the only one who survived the fall. When Llamas asked if any memories from the incident were "frozen" in his mind, Cervantes Suarez said in Spanish, "Yes."

The 37-year-old worker described the moments of his escape: he was in his truck when the bridge gave way. Trapped as water rose to his neck, he manually rolled down the window and escaped just as the truck sank.

Despite being unable to swim, he climbed onto a piece of floating concrete and awaited rescue. He was hospitalized with a chest wound and released the same day.

Recalling those terrifying moments, he expressed deep gratitude and humility. "I thanked God for family he gave me. I asked him to take care of my wife and kids. And I asked for forgiveness for everything I've done," Cervantes Suarez recounted, his voice trembling with raw emotion.

However, his survival came with a heavy emotional toll. Reflecting on the incident, he described seeing his family and friends disappear into the river, including his 18-year-old nephew, Carlos Daniel Hernández, whom he treated like a son.

Haunted by his decision to suggest his nephew rest in the car moments before the collapse, he expressed deep guilt. "If I had told him to come with me, maybe it would have been different. Maybe he would be here with us," Cervantes Suarez said. The tragedy's impact extends beyond his personal grief.

He has witnessed the pain of his coworkers' families, especially the children and wife of his brother-in-law, Alejandro Hernández Fuentes, who also died after the bridge collapsed.

In response to the tragic incident, legal actions are being pursued to seek justice for the victims. Cervantes Suarez and the families of the deceased are taking legal action against Grace Ocean Private Ltd., through their attorneys, L. Chris Stewart and Justin Miller.

Aware of the gravity of the situation, Stewart emphasized, "They had multiple issues not just before hitting the bridge but before even getting to this port," highlighting the cargo ship's alleged mistakes. This collective accountability underscores the profound impact on those left behind.

Reflecting on the enduring repercussions, Miller remarked, "This will never go away and he still has a family to take care of and now a bunch of other people from other families that he has to take care of as well."

The scope of the legal repercussions extends to the city as well. Along with the legal actions, the city of Baltimore has blamed The Dali for "negligence," demanding compensation for the destruction of the Francis Scott Key Bridge and the impact on the Port of Baltimore, as reported by ABC on April 23.

"For all intents and purposes, Petitioner's negligence caused them to destroy the Key Bridge, and single handedly destroy the Port of Baltimore, a source of jobs, municipal revenue and no small amount of pride for the city of Baltimore and its residents" the city's filing read. However, the company has yet to respond to these allegations.

Amid ongoing legal battles, Cervantes Suarez is focusing on his personal recovery, undergoing therapy to cope with the trauma. While the therapy has been beneficial, he admitted to occasional setbacks, stating, "it has helped me, but sometimes I regress back to the first day."

As he undergoes therapy and copes with family heartbreak, he continues to seek justice. Cervantes Suarez believes those responsible should face consequences and provide compensation.

Yet, he acknowledges that no amount of compensation can replace the loss of loved ones. "Because I know that money is not going to buy a hug from a father or a son," he said. he said.

Cervantes Suarez, whose identity was initially withheld as reported on March 28, recounted his experiences to Governor Wes Moore. Moore shared, "It was a pretty remarkable conversation, where, as he said, 'But for the grace of God that he was there.'"

Moore recounted the survivor's tale, emphasizing the narrow escape from what could have been a fatal outcome. "The individual actually shared with me that he did see the ship, that it was coming," Moore added.

Reflecting on the conversation, Moore concluded at the time, "It really is pretty miraculous when you consider what happened and the speed and the intensity at which it happened last night."

The collapse set off an extensive search and rescue operation, a testament to the immediacy with which federal, state, and local Maryland communities rallied to support the recovery efforts.

Helicopters became a familiar sight, circling overhead every half hour or so, while divers and coast guards scoured the waters below, all hands working tirelessly to locate and assist the victims.

Shortly after the news broke, Governor Wes Moore spoke to CBS News, describing the families of the victims and survivors as "distraught and heartbroken."

Investigations into the vessel's malfunction are reportedly ongoing, with President Joe Biden labeling the incident "a terrible accident."

In the wake of the situation, Moore emphasized his personal interactions with the families, sensing their prayerful and hopeful demeanor. He shared that he had prayed with and for them, who stressed that the victims were husbands, fathers, and brothers.