BALTIMORE (AP) — The body of the last missing construction worker killed in the collapse of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge in March has been recovered, officials announced Tuesday as demolition crews prepared to use explosives in the ongoing cleanup effort.
Officials said the crew of the Dali will remain on board the grounded container ship while crews conduct a controlled demolition to break down the largest remaining span of the fallen bridge.
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BALTIMORE (AP) — The body of the last missing construction worker killed in the collapse of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge in March has been recovered, officials announced Tuesday as demolition crews prepared to use explosives in the ongoing cleanup effort.
The collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge lays on top of the container ship Dali, Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Dali crew will stay on board during controlled demolition to remove fallen bridge from ship's deck
Dali crew will stay on board during controlled demolition to remove fallen bridge from ship's deck
The collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge lays on top of the container ship Dali, Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
The steel span landed on the ship’s bow after the Dali lost power and crashed into one of the bridge’s support columns on March 26. Since then, the ship has been stuck amid the wreckage, and Baltimore’s busy port has been closed to most maritime traffic.
Six construction workers were killed in the collapse. The body of Jose Mynor Lopez, 37, was recovered Tuesday, officials said in a statement that evening. All the victims were Latino immigrants who were working an overnight shift filling potholes on the bridge. Police officers were able to stop traffic moments before the collapse, but they didn’t have enough time to alert the workers.
Lopez moved to the United States from Guatemala. During a vigil last month honoring the victims whose families were still awaiting closure, mourners used a crane to hoist a Guatemalan flag in his memory.
Officials said salvage divers located his body and alerted state authorities.
“With heavy hearts, today marks a significant milestone in our recovery efforts and providing closure to the loved ones of the six workers who lost their lives in this tragic event,” Maryland State Police Superintendent Col. Roland Butler Jr. said in a statement.
The controlled demolition, which is expected to take place in the coming days, will allow the Dali to be refloated and guided back into the Port of Baltimore, officials said. Once the ship is removed, maritime traffic can begin returning to normal, which will provide relief for thousands of longshoremen, truckers and small business owners have seen their jobs impacted by the closure.
Officials previously said they hoped to remove the Dali by May 10 and reopen the port’s 50-foot (15.2-meter) main channel by the end of May.
The Dali’s 21-member crew will shelter in place aboard the ship while the explosives are detonated, said Petty Officer Ronald Hodges of the Coast Guard.
Engineers have been working for weeks to determine the best way to remove this last major piece of the fallen bridge. The explosives will send it tumbling into the water. Then a massive hydraulic grabber will lift the resulting sections of steel onto barges.
Video footage released by Coast Guard officials last week showed entire sections of roadway sitting on the ship’s deck.
Hodges said the crew’s safety was a top concern as officials considered whether they should remain on the ship during the demolition. He said engineers are using precision cuts to control how the trusses break down.
“The last thing anybody wants is for something to happen to the crew members,” Hodges said.
They haven’t been allowed to leave the Dali since the disaster. Officials said they’ve been busy maintaining the ship and assisting investigators. Of the crew members, 20 are from India and one is Sri Lankan.
A spokesperson for the crew didn’t immediately respond to an email seeking comment Tuesday afternoon.
The National Transportation Safety Board and the FBI are conducting investigations into the bridge collapse.
Danish shipping giant Maersk had chartered the Dali for a planned trip from Baltimore to Sri Lanka, but the ship didn’t get far. Its crew sent a mayday call saying they had lost power and had no control of the steering system. Minutes later, the ship rammed into the bridge.
Officials have said the safety board investigation will focus on the ship’s electrical system, including whether it experienced power issues before leaving Baltimore.
Maryland leaders said last week that they plan to rebuild the bridge by fall 2028.
A vessel, left, moves past the stranded container ship Dali, through a newly opened deep-water channel in Baltimore after being stuck in the harbor since the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed four weeks ago, Thursday, April 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
The collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge lays on top of the container ship Dali, Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Dali crew will stay on board during controlled demolition to remove fallen bridge from ship's deck
Dali crew will stay on board during controlled demolition to remove fallen bridge from ship's deck
The collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge lays on top of the container ship Dali, Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
ROME (AP) — The Italian Open was where it all began for Alexander Zverev with his first Masters Series title seven years ago.
On Sunday, another Rome trophy signaled a career revival.
Zverev put on a serving clinic to beat 24th-ranked Nicolas Jarry 6-4, 7-5 and earn his biggest trophy since tearing his ankle apart two years ago.
“The last two years have been extremely difficult,” Zverev said during the trophy ceremony. “I didn’t know whether I was ever going to be on this stage — regardless of winning or losing — so this moment is extremely special.”
It was Zverev’s third final in Rome. He won in 2017 by beating Novak Djokovic in straight sets then lost to Rafael Nadal in the title match a year later.
"Rome is a very special place for me,” Zverev said.
Zverev opened the match with three straight aces and won 20 of his 21 service points in the first set. The German didn't drop a point on his first serve until late in the second set when the 6-foot-7 (2.01 meter) Jarry ran down a well-placed drop shot and replied with a cross-court winner.
In all, Zverev won 44 of his 49 service points — helped by getting in 95% of his first serves.
“His service, apart from being very good, is very different from all the other servers. He takes the ball very high, so the bounce is very special,” Jarry said. “It took me time to get the trajectory of it.”
It’s been a long road of recovery for the fifth-ranked Zverev after tearing three ligaments in his right ankle during the 2022 French Open semifinals against Rafael Nadal.
When Zverev broke Jarry to convert his fourth match point, he dropped to his knees on the red clay court, leaned back and let out a scream.
This year’s French Open starts next Sunday and now Zverev has established himself among the favorites again — especially with top-ranked Djokovic and 14-time Roland Garros champion Nadal both struggling lately. Djokovic and Nadal were eliminated in the second and third rounds, respectively, in Rome.
There are also injury concerns for second-ranked Jannik Sinner (hip) and third-ranked Carlos Alcaraz (right forearm) — who both withdrew from Rome.
“The focus is on Paris," Zverev said. "But let me enjoy this one for a day or so, and then I’ll have my full focus on Paris.”
Zverev, who has disputed a penalty order from a German court over allegations that he caused bodily harm to a woman, faces a trial starting during Roland Garros. He said recently that he won’t attend the start of the legal proceedings.
And Zverev isn’t 100% healthy either. He had the pinky on his left hand bandaged due to a fall in his quarterfinal win over Taylor Fritz, after which he said he “tore a capsule” and that his finger was “crooked.” The German plays right-handed but uses a two-handed backhand.
Zverev will also be defending his gold medal when the Paris Olympics tennis tournament is held at Roland Garros starting in late July.
Jarry, a Chilean playing in his first Masters Series final, upset Stefanos Tsitsipas in the quarterfinals.
“This has been an incredible week," Jarry said.
Jarry was cheered on by his grandfather, Jaime Fillol, who was a top-20 player and who gave Jarry his first racket as a kid. Fillol was on Chile’s Davis Cup team that lost the 1976 final to Italy.
Jarry's wife and two sons were also courtside and he grew emotional during the trophy ceremony and had to look away from his family to regain his composure.
“This is a fantastic example of what a family life on tour can look like,” Zverev said.
“I’m not so emotional,” Zverev added. “My dad cries, I don’t cry. It’s a good mix.”
It was Zverev’s first Masters final since getting beat by Alcaraz at the 2022 Madrid Open. The only previous titles he won since his ankle injury came in Hamburg, Germany, and Chengdu, China, last year.
Zverev earned a winner’s check of 963,225 euros (more than $1 million).
Top-ranked Iga Swiatek beat No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka in the women’s final on Saturday.
In the women’s doubles final, Coco Gauff double faulted on match point to hand Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini of Italy the title with a 6-3, 4-6, (10-8) victory. Gauff teamed with Erin Routliffe.
Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos beat Marcelo Arevalo and Mate Pavic 6-2, 6-2 for the men’s doubles title.
AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis
Nicolas Jarry, of Chile, plays with his children Santiago and Juan after his Italian Open tennis tournament final match against Alexander Zverev, of Germany, at Rome's Foro Italico, Sunday, May 19, 2024. Zverev won 6-4/7-5. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Alexander Zverev, of Germany, poses with his trophy and his parents, Alexander and Irina, after defeating Nicolas Jarry, of Chile, in the Italian Open tennis tournament final match at Rome's Foro Italico, Sunday, May 19, 2024. Zverev won 6-4/7-5. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Second placed Nicolas Jarry, of Chile, left and winner Alexander Zverev, of Germany, pose with their awards at the end of his Italian Open tennis tournament final match against Alexander Zverev, of Germany, at Rome's Foro Italico, Sunday, May 19, 2024. Zverev won 6-4/7-5. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Nicolas Jarry, of Chile, serves to Alexander Zverev, of Germany, during the Italian Open tennis tournament final match at Rome's Foro Italico, Sunday, May 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Alexander Zverev, of Germany, reacts during his Italian Open tennis tournament final match against Nicolas Jarry, of Chile, at Rome's Foro Italico, Sunday, May 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Alexander Zverev, of Germany, prepares to serve to Nicolas Jarry, of Chile, during the Italian Open tennis tournament final match at Rome's Foro Italico, Sunday, May 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Nicolas Jarry, of Chile, prepares to serve to Alexander Zverev, of Germany during the Italian Open tennis tournament final match at Rome's Foro Italico, Sunday, May 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Nicolas Jarry, of Chile, returns the ball to Alexander Zverev, of Germany during the Italian Open tennis tournament final match at Rome's Foro Italico, Sunday, May 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Alexanders Zverev, of Germany, left, serves to Nicolas Jarry, of Chile, during the Italian Open tennis tournament final match at Rome's Foro Italico, Sunday, May 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Nicolas Jarry, of Chile, wipes his face during his Italian Open tennis tournament final match against Alexander Zverev, of Germany, at Rome's Foro Italico, Sunday, May 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Alexander Zverev, of Germany, right, and Nicolas Jarry, of Chile, embrace each other at the end of the Italian Open tennis tournament final match at Rome's Foro Italico, Sunday, May 19, 2024. Zverev won 6-4/7-5. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Alexander Zverev, of Germany, reacts after defeating Nicolas Jarry, of Chile, in the Italian Open tennis tournament final match at Rome's Foro Italico, Sunday, May 19, 2024. Zverev won 6-4/7-5. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Alexander Zverev, of Germany, returns with a backhand to Nicolas Jarry, of Chile, during the Italian Open tennis tournament final match at Rome's Foro Italico, Sunday, May 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Alexander Zverev, of Germany, serves to Nicolas Jarry, of Chile, during the Italian Open tennis tournament final match at Rome's Foro Italico, Sunday, May 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Alexander Zverev, of Germany, reacts after scoring a point against Nicolas Jarry, of Chile, during the Italian Open tennis tournament final match at Rome's Foro Italico, Sunday, May 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Alexander Zverev, of Germany, poses with his trophy after defeating Nicolas Jarry, of Chile, in the Italian Open tennis tournament final match at Rome's Foro Italico, Sunday, May 19, 2024. Zverev won 6-4/7-5. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Alexander Zverev, of Germany, reacts after defeating Nicolas Jarry, of Chile, in the Italian Open tennis tournament final match at Rome's Foro Italico, Sunday, May 19, 2024. Zverev won 6-4/7-5. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
