Andrew Yoder Among 4 Killed After Crane Crashes onto Mercer Street [Seattle, WA]

Ironworker Andrew Yoder Killed When Crane Collapses at Google’s New Seattle Campus

 
SEATTLE, WA (April 29, 2019) – A Marine lost his life Saturday when a crane collapsed onto Mercer Street near Fairview Avenue North.
 
The unfortunate accident happened around 3:30 p.m. when Andrew Yoder and another ironworker were working on the crane.
 
Along one of Seattle’s busiest roads, Mercer Street was bustling with drivers heading to their next destination. Meanwhile, four construction companies were attempting to dismantle a crane on Google’s new Seattle campus when it plummeted down under unknown circumstances.
 
Broadcasted surveillance footage revealed the massive range of metal topple over before shearing into two and collapsing onto six vehicles down below. Unfortunately, people inside their cars were unable to avoid the imminent calamity.
 
Yoder was not only a Marine but a father and a devout Christian from North Bend, Wash. He and another worker, whom reports have yet to identify, died in the accident.
 
Sarah Wong – a 19-year-old Seattle Pacific University student – marks as one of the four fatal victims, as well. The other two will be released by officials once the next of kin has been notified.
 
Per reports, the Seattle accident also left four people with injuries, including a 4-month-old girl and her 25-year-old mother, whose car had been pounded from a severed section of the crane.
 
Authorities are sifting through evidence to determine the cause. Per reports, detectives launched a probe into four companies — general contractor GLY, Northwest Tower Crane Service Inc., Omega Rigging and Machinery Moving Inc. and Morrow Equipment Co. LLC.
 
Reports noted that these companies had been assigned in taking apart the construction equipment at the time.
 
Investigators also garnered from witnesses that wind gusts as high at 23 mph had been present at the time. However, these details are still insufficient in determining the ultimate cause.
 
Per the Department of Labor, a tally of 44 crane-related deaths was collected per year. Yet neither of those cases emanated from the country’s crane capital.
 
As loved ones mourn and remember those lost, investigators are working incessantly to uncover the cause.

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Our hearts ache for the family and friends of Andrew Yoder. We’d like to express our heartfelt sympathies to you.

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At the Sweet Law Group, we represent families like yours in their legal fight. If your loved one has died due to the negligent actions of another, call (800) 674 7852. We vow to remain compassionate with you as we aggressively handle your case. Our goal is to win you the means needed to mitigate any medical or memorial costs, which you’re unable to cover. As your trusted attorney, we’ll fight with you throughout each phase of your legal journey.