Four dead in Seattle construction crane collapse
SEATTLE, Wash. — Four people were killed when a crane collapsed in downtown Seattle Saturday. The crane fell onto a building and parts of it crashed onto the street below, crushing multiple cars.
According to the Seattle Fire Department, two workers who were in the cab of the crane and two people who were in cars on the ground were all killed. The crane landed on Fairview Ave. and Mercer Street around 4:00 p.m.
Three people were taken to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. A 25-year-old mother and her 4-month-old child were discharged Saturday night. A 28-year-old man who suffered back and foot injuries remains in satisfactory condition.
Another victim was treated at the scene and was not hurt seriously enough to go to the hospital.
The King County Medical Examiner’s Office will release the names of the people who died on Monday. One of the two crane workers who was killed was reported to be a young father with a family.
It’s still not clear what exactly caused the crane to collapse. It was working on a building that will be used by Google.
Washington state labor investigators are now investigating. Tim Church, a spokesman for the Washington Department of Labor and Industries, said the tower crane was being disassembled when it fell from the building. Church said the investigation into the crash will likely take months.
According to KOMO News, Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan said the city had a good track record with crane safety. “It’s a horrible day in Seattle when something like this happens. But it’s a time when we come together because Seattle is a city that rallies around each other,” she said.
Since January there are about 60 construction cranes in Seattle, more than any other U.S. city.
Washington Governor Jay Inslee tweeted about the crane collapse Saturday. “My heart goes out to the family and friends of the four people who died in this terrible accident,” he said.
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