Fatality, investigation suspends West Seattle Bridge project
Jul 6, 2016, 12:53 PM | Updated: Jul 7, 2016, 9:46 am
A contract worker died after falling about 50 feet while working on the West Seattle Bridge on July 1. (KIRO 7)
(KIRO 7)
Work being done on a West Seattle Bridge project to replace bearing pads along the expressway has been suspended due to a crash that turned deadly on July 1.
The Fauntleroy Expressway Bearing Pad Replacement Project is on hold until further notice, the Seattle Department of Transportation announced.
Police: No reason to believe driver in deadly Seattle crash was impaired
A box truck struck the arm of a lift, throwing two men from a lift basket while they were working on the bridge. One man was wearing a safety harness and fell 15 feet. The other fell about 50 feet to the ground and later died at Harborview Medical Center.
The Seattle Times identified the man killed as Rafe Rasmussen, of Mountlake Terrace.
Washington State Department of Labor and Industries has started and investigation that could take six months.
Investigators will try to determine who is to blame.
Seattle Police Department spokesperson Patrick Michaud told KIRO 7 that a number of questions need to be answered
“Were they where they were supposed to be? Was it signed properly? Were there cones? Did they do everything possible to avoid this?” Michaud asked.
He said interviewing the survivor should help the investigation.
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