Baltimore Bridge Collapse Survivor 'Fought For His Life': Attorneys

BALTIMORE, MD — Attorneys for a construction worker who was on Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge when a massive container ship crashed into it last month said he had "absolutely zero warning" before the span collapsed, sending him and several others into the frigid Patapsco River.

Julio Cervantes, who survived falling from the bridge, narrowly escaped drowning by rolling down his work vehicle's window and fighting through the water despite being unable to swim, attorney L. Chris Stewart said during a news conference in Baltimore.

He clung to debris until he was rescued, Stewart said.

"They got absolutely zero warning. He had no idea," Stewart said at the news conference, according to WBAL. "He watched everybody go into the water. They were not warned. They were actually sitting in their cars on break."

Related:

• 4th Key Bridge Victim Found Dead In Baltimore Waters: Officials
• 'You're Alive': Baker Among Last Drivers On Key Bridge Before Collapse

Cervantes was among eight men who fell into the Patapsco River when the container ship Dali lost power and struck a support pillar for the bridge, causing it to collapse. Only two workers survived. Authorities have since located the bodies of four victims, while two remain unaccounted for.

"Cervantes fought for his life, and he was rescued by workers," attorney Justin Miller said, according to WBAL.

Hours before leaving port, the Dali experienced apparent electrical problems, a person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press on Monday. The same day, the FBI launched a criminal investigation into the crash.

The city of Baltimore is also taking legal action. Mayor Brandon Scott on Monday announced that the city is partnering with two law firms to hold any wrongdoers accountable in the shipwreck. For its legal action, the city tapped national complex issues and trial firm DiCello Levitt and Philadelphia law firm Saltz Mongeluzzi Bendesky Trial Lawyers.

Scott said the city “will take decisive action to hold responsible all entities accountable for the Key Bridge tragedy,” including the owner, operator and manufacturer of the cargo ship Dali, which began its journey roughly a half-hour before losing power and veering off course.

• RELATED: Read all of Patch's Key Bridge collapse coverage here.

The Dali is managed by Synergy Marine Group and owned by Grace Ocean Private Ltd., both of Singapore. Danish shipping giant Maersk chartered the Dali.

Synergy and Grace Ocean filed a court petition soon after the collapse seeking to limit their legal liability, a routine procedure for cases litigated under U.S. maritime law. Their joint filing seeks to cap the companies’ liability at roughly $43.6 million. It estimates that the vessel itself is valued at up to $90 million and was owed over $1.1 million in income from freight. The estimate also deducts two major expenses: at least $28 million in repair costs and at least $19.5 million in salvage costs.

“Due to the magnitude of the incident, there are various government agencies conducting investigations, in which we are fully participating,” Synergy spokesperson Darrell Wilson said in a statement Monday. “Out of respect for these investigations and any future legal proceedings, it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time.”

The companies filed their petition under a provision of an 1851 maritime law that allows them to seek to limit their liability to the value of the vessel’s remains after a casualty.

Cervantes' attorney argued Monday that the companies that own and manage the ship are taking advantage of an “archaic law” in attempting to protect their assets.

“This was all preventable,” Stewart said. “That is why we were brought in to investigate and find out what has happened and give these families a voice.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.