Jeffrey Pritzker, executive vice president of Brawner Builders, told CNN that seven Brauner Builders employees were on the Francis Scott Key Bridge the night of the collapse.
One person survived, but the remaining six are presumed dead.
“They were great young men,” he said. “They had a hard job. They were hardworking, wonderful people, and now they're gone.”
Pritzker told CNN he doesn't know how the worker survived, adding that the survivor is not yet ready to tell his story, but is “very shaken up” and injured. He said he was suffering from stress.
“It's amazing he survived,” Pritzker said, adding that the worker was able to swim away.
Pritzker said most of the seven men had worked for Broner Builders for years and were doing concrete repair work on the night of the collapse, including filling holes in the Key Bridge.
Pritzker also said the owner of Browner Builders spent the night of the collapse praying that his employees would be found alive.
When it was discovered that six other employees were presumed dead, the owner and senior colleagues gathered the families and spent the morning together.
“We're going to make sure our families are well taken care of,” Pritzker said.
Pritzker said the company is putting together a compensation package for families.