SEATTLE – At least four people were killed in Seattle and three more injured when a crane fell and crushed six vehicles, police said. The four people were dead when officials arrived, the Seattle Fire Department told The Associated Press.
Two of the people killed were crane operators and two others were in vehicles struck by the crane, CBS Seattle affiliate KIRO-TV reports.
A 27-year-old man, a 25-year-old woman, and a 4-month-old female infant were taken to a local hospital for treatment, KIRO reports. A fourth person was treated at the scene.
A woman who works nearby and witnessed the accident told the Seattle Times it was “terrifying.” She said the wind was “blowing really strong,” and then she saw the crane break in half.
“Half of it was flying down sideways on the building,” she said. “The other half fell down on the street, crossing both lanes of traffic.”
The National Weather Service tweeted wind gusts of 18 and 23 mph were recorded at observation sites near the crane collapse. “Would not consider these strong wind gusts,” the National Weather Service wrote.
Vulcan Inc., the developer of the property, issued a statement saying “our general contractor, GLY, and its sub-contractors are fully cooperating with the authorities investigating this incident.”
The property is set to house a Google campus as well as several apartments, KIRO reports.
