Dad of Two, 38, Vanishes after the Baltimore Bridge Tragedy: His Family Speaks Out

In the aftermath of the heart-wrenching Baltimore bridge collapse, the family and friends of a 38-year-old devoted dad of two have come forward to share poignant insights into the life and character of the beloved victim, whose absence has left a profound void. It was in the early hours of a somber Tuesday that tragedy struck at the heart of Baltimore and reverberated across borders, leaving communities in despair and shock.

The catastrophic collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge—a vital travel passage for 30,000 Marylanders—was not just an infrastructural failure but a profound human tragedy. Among the victims was Maynor Yassir Suazo Sandoval, who is presumed dead and whose life story epitomizes the relentless pursuit of the American Dream.

Martin Suazo—grappling with the sudden disappearance of his brother—shared the multifaceted life of Maynor with a news outlet. Originally hailing from Santa Bárbara, Honduras, as one of eight siblings, Maynor migrated to the United States, driven by aspirations for a better life, where he had resided for the past 18 years.

His journey in the US was marked by an unwavering commitment to his family, which includes an 18-year-old son, a 5-year-old daughter, and a wife. He also demonstrated a tireless work ethic.

Beyond his job as a construction worker, Maynor was an entrepreneur at heart and had founded a maintenance company. Another one of his brothers, Carlos Suazo Sandoval, went on about how Maynor was the kind of person who had “vision.”

He also spoke about the unwavering hope he and his family still had in finding Maynor alive, stating, “God grant the miracle, it would be beautiful.” However, he also confirmed that should his brother’s body be found, their family plans to repatriate the body to Honduras and focus on breaking the difficult news to their mother and dealing with the financial burden that Maynor’s family may face.

Maynor’s story resonates beyond personal loss and highlights the broader narrative of immigrant workers who risk their lives in pursuit of betterment. In addition to conveying their condolences, the National Transportation Safety Board has since relayed their commitment to preventing such tragedies in the future, yet for the families affected, the pain is immeasurable.

Statements from family members and friends—originally posted in Spanish via social media platforms and news outlets—paint a portrait of Maynor as a beacon of joy and resilience. In an emotionally charged video, Maynor’s sister, who was visibly shaken and bereaved, reminisced about her brother’s life.

Through tears, she articulated the profound loss felt by the family: “He gave us the strength for everything.” Similarly, when talking about his persona, Marina Maldonado Villeda, a neighbor, and friend, described him as a warm, enterprising individual, beloved by his neighbors, whose presence uplifted others.

“Maynor is a great guy […] a giver of noble causes […] with a vision and mission at the service of our community,” she divulged, capturing the essence of Maynor’s character.

Aside from personal reflections shared by Maynor’s loved ones, his work with children and local soccer initiatives also speaks volumes about his values and morals, highlighting him as a man who believed in giving back and nurturing the next generation.

“Maynor Suazo, a young entrepreneur with a vision of service to his community, especially to the children and social causes of the municipality. Promoter and sponsor of minor soccer in Azacualpa,” said Himery Perdomo, underscoring Maynor’s commitment to positive communal impact.

The tragedy of the Baltimore bridge collapse in which the victims plummeted into 50-foot-deep water, serves as a somber reminder of the vulnerabilities faced by workers in critical infrastructure roles. Maynor’s legacy, however, is not defined by this tragedy but by the lives he touched and the dreams he aspired to achieve.

As investigations continue and the community seeks to rebuild, the story of Maynor and his construction colleagues remains a powerful narrative of sacrifice, hope, and the unbreakable human spirit. In their memory, the call for safety, accountability, and support for the families left behind grows louder, ensuring that their loss is not in vain but a catalyst for change.

As we previously reported on March 27, 2024, another victim of the Baltimore bridge collapse who is also presumed dead and is a father of three, was reported missing after the tragedy ensued.

The tragedy occurred when the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore collapsed after a Singaporean-flagged container vessel struck a pillar on the 47-year-old bridge.

The identity of one of the six people, a CASA member, now presumed dead was shared in a heartfelt statement from CASA Executive Director Gustavo Torres.

“Sadly, we discovered that one of the construction workers involved was a longtime member of our CASA family, adding an even deeper layer of sorrow to this already grievous situation,” he stated.

Husband, father of three, El Salvadorian Miguel Luna, a Maryland resident for over 19 years, left for work on the bridge at 6:30 p.m., and he never returned home.

Miguel Luna’s wife, María del Carmen Castellón, is “devastated” at the turn of events as she said, “They only tell us that we have to wait, that right now they cannot give information. [We feel] devastated, devastated because our hearts are broken because we don’t know how they have been rescued yet. We are just waiting for the news.”

A colleague of the missing workers, Jesús Campos, added, “It hurts my heart to see what is happening. We are human beings and they are my coworkers,” Campos said. “First of all, God, be alive. It’s what you want most.”

More than 14 hours after the disaster, authorities announced the suspension of search and rescue efforts for the missing workers working on the bridge when it collapsed.

On Tuesday evening it still remained unclear how many vehicles fell into the water, or if there are any other victims. Initially, 8 workers on the bridge got caught up in the collapse, but emergency responders pulled two workers from the water early Tuesday.

One of the rescued workers was identified as an employee of Brawner Builders. Of the two rescued, one is uninjured and the other in “very serious condition.”

The tragedy occurred on Tuesday, just before 1:30 a.m., when the container vessel called DALI struck a bridge pillar.

According to the executive director and general counsel of the American Pilots Association, Clay Diamond, the ship’s local pilot did what he could to prevent it from drifting towards the bridge, but failed due to another unforeseen situation.

“Just minutes before the bridge, there was a total blackout on the ship, meaning that the ship lost engine power and electrical power, it was a complete blackout,” Diamond said.

Even though the pilot called for the anchor to be dropped, and for the rudder to steer the ship as far left as possible, it did little to prevent the collision.

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore elaborated on the situation in a statement.

“As a result (of the momentary loss of power), it was unable to maintain the desired heading and collided with the Francis Scott Key bridge,” the statement reportedly read.

The 984-foot-long vessel approached the bridge in the wrong part of the channel, instead of crossing right under the bridge where the clearance is the highest.

The NTSB has since launched a team to investigate the tragedy and will lead the investigation. Initial damage estimates to the bridge and ship are more than $ 500,000, and the Office of Marine Safety will investigate the probable cause.