Seattle Crane Victims Include College Freshman

Authorities in Seattle don't know yet what caused Saturday's deadly crane collapse, but the identity of one of the four people killed has been revealed. Sarah Wong, 19, was a freshman at Seattle Pacific University who was studying to become a neonatal nurse, reports the Seattle Times. Wong was in a car hit by the falling crane, as was one other victim. The other two fatalities were men working on the crane itself. "While we grieve the sudden and tragic loss of our precious student, we draw comfort from each other," said a statement from Seattle Pacific. "We ask that the community join us in praying for Sarah's family and friends during this difficult time."

The crane was actually being disassembled when it came crashing down, and the day had been somewhat windy (23mph gusts) around the time of the accident, per the AP. The crane had been working on a new building for Google, one of many companies taking part in a tech "building craze" in the city, per the New York Times. This craze was largely set off by Amazon's 2007 decision to locate its headquarters there. "It's the city of cranes," says a resident who lives near the accident site. "They are a necessity if we want to grow this city. I walk under them, but I do have my eyes to the sky." In addition to those killed, one person remains hospitalized in satisfactory condition. (More Seattle stories.)