Friends, family provide glimpse of man killed in 520 construction fall

Friends and relatives describe the 34-year-old carpenter fatally injured in a fall at the 520 bridge construction project as an enthusiastic, fearless man who became interested in carpentry as a child.

Messages on a memorial page set up for Joseph Arrants tell a story of a consummate giver.

“Joseph Arrants was a hard worker, a wonderful provider, and a bringer of love, life, and joy. He was very involved in the church, and expressed this love through his music with a soothing voice and melodious guitar. His life mission was to serve God and help others. He demonstrated this by working with youth in the church, as well as two missions to Mexico where he built a school and medical shed for the community. He picked up the local children on his way to school, where he spread the word of Jesus to the students,” his family writes.

Last Thursday, Arrants fell 60 to 70 feet and landed on a hard surface. He died at Harborview Medical Center. His death is under investigation.

Spokesman Tom Janssen says bridge contractors Kiewit-General-Manson held safety meetings and resumed limited operations at the construction site on Monday.

The Burien man leaves behind a wife, two children and five sisters.

Friends, family and past co-workers continue to leave messages and donations for Arrants’ family at the memorial page. They set up a goal of only $5,000, but donations so far have reached over $28,000.

The family has expressed their gratitude for people’s generosity and said it’s “an indication of lives that Joe has touched.”

Visit the Joe Arrants Memorial Fund page.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.