Washington lawmakers propose criminal charges for crane operators who violate safety regulations
SEATTLE — It's been nearly five years since a 300-foot crane collapsed from the top of a then-future Google building in South Lake Union, killing four people, including Seattle Pacific University student Sarah Wong, and injuring more.
The car Wong was in was crushed on Mercer Avenue on that fateful Saturday in April 2019.
"We lost a cherished daughter and our son lost his only sibling," said Wong's father, Henry Wong, during a news conference near the site Wednesday morning.
Wong's parents recently came to the site for only the second time since the incident. Now that the investigation is complete, they spoke about the deadly crane collapse for the first time.
"It's really hard to come back here and just always be reminded of her," said Wong's mother, Andrea.
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In 2022, a King County jury found the operators, Omega Morgan Sarens and Northwest Tower Crane, responsible for the collapse and awarded more than $150 million to the victims.
The crane was being dismantled in strong winds when it collapsed. Investigators said workers violated crane procedures by removing connection pins too soon.
"At this point we've reached the limit of the changes we can make without changing the law," Democratic Washington Sen. Noel Frame said.
Frame and Rep. Julia Reed — a fellow Democrat from the 36th District — are pushing two new bills they say will improve public safety near tower cranes with three key steps: Designating a safety zone when a crane is assembled and disassembled; permit process improvements; and misdemeanor charges for companies that violate these regulations.
"We think this creates a structure that is going to protect people," Reed said.
Two public hearings are scheduled to be held this week about the bills.