Knights of Columbus Donates $100,000 to Aid Families of Hispanic Workers Killed in Baltimore Bridge Collapse

The Knights of Columbus, a Catholic fraternal organization, has donated $100,000 to an Archdiocese of Baltimore relief fund established to support the families of six Hispanic construction workers who were killed in the tragic collapse of Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge on March 26, 2024. The bridge collapsed when the massive cargo ship Dali lost power and struck one of the bridge's main support piers, causing the span to immediately fall into the Patapsco River.

The six construction workers, who were employed by Maryland-based contracting company Brawner Builders, were fixing potholes on the bridge at the time of the collapse. The victims were from El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico. Their bodies were recovered over the course of several weeks, and their families and former co-workers paid tribute to them as hard-working, devoted family men.

The Archdiocese of Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge Relief Fund has raised over $170,000 to provide financial assistance to the affected families. In addition to the Knights of Columbus donation, the Archdiocese also raised $25,000 for the Apostleship of the Sea, a ministry that supports international seafarers at the Port of Baltimore.

Why this matters: The bridge collapse and its aftermath have left multiple families in Baltimore and across Latin America grieving their lost loved ones. The generous donation from the Knights of Columbus and the relief fund established by the Archdiocese of Baltimore demonstrate the community's support for the victims' families during this difficult time.

The collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, which carried 30,000 vehicles a day, many of them trucks, has had a significant impact on the local community. The incident has led to increased truck traffic through residential neighborhoods, causing concerns about public health and safety due to diesel emissions and damage to roads. Federal investigations by the FBI and National Transportation Safety Board are ongoing to determine the cause of the tragedy, and the families of the victims have pledged to challenge the Dali's owners' petition to limit their legal liability. "The bridge's construction was a source of pride and a stepping stone for many workers, and its collapse was a devastating loss for the community," retired ironworkers who worked on the original construction of the bridge in the 1970s reflected.

Key Takeaways

• Knights of Columbus donated $100K to Archdiocese of Baltimore relief fund
• 6 Hispanic construction workers killed in Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse
• Archdiocese's relief fund raised over $170K to assist affected families
• Bridge collapse caused increased truck traffic, public health and safety concerns
• Investigations ongoing to determine cause, families challenge liability limits