1 killed as house collapses on Guemes Island
GUEMES ISLAND, Wash. - A construction worker was killed when a house collapsed on top of him Saturday on Guemes Island in Skagit County, officials said.
The victim was identified as David Leep, 57, of Mount Vernon.
Fire officials said the house was in the process of being lowered onto a new foundation when it fell on Leep, who was working beneath it.
"This is a whole new thing for us – no, we’ve never seen this accident before here," said Guemes Island Fire Chief Mike Stamper.
Five other contractors also were working under the house at the time, but they were not hurt.
The house, located on Southshore Road, was too tall when it was constructed on the original foundation, in violation of the covenants of the complex where it was built.
A contractor was hired to lower the house onto a new foundation. But in the process of lowering the house Saturday, it "shifted catastrophically," Stamper said.
Leep was trapped between two beams as the house collapsed on top of him. It's believed that he died instantly.
"I’ve talked to the workman that were here and they have no idea," Stamper said. "Looking at the house underneath there’s no way of knowing exactly what caused it to collapse."
The state Department of Labor of Industries is investigating the deadly accident.
"The workmen were pretty traumatized. There’s a lot of emotional stuff that goes with losing a coworker, of course," Stamper said.
Guemes Island, accessible only by Skagit County ferry, is located just north of Anacortes.
The victim was identified as David Leep, 57, of Mount Vernon.
Fire officials said the house was in the process of being lowered onto a new foundation when it fell on Leep, who was working beneath it.
"This is a whole new thing for us – no, we’ve never seen this accident before here," said Guemes Island Fire Chief Mike Stamper.
Five other contractors also were working under the house at the time, but they were not hurt.
The house, located on Southshore Road, was too tall when it was constructed on the original foundation, in violation of the covenants of the complex where it was built.
A contractor was hired to lower the house onto a new foundation. But in the process of lowering the house Saturday, it "shifted catastrophically," Stamper said.
Leep was trapped between two beams as the house collapsed on top of him. It's believed that he died instantly.
"I’ve talked to the workman that were here and they have no idea," Stamper said. "Looking at the house underneath there’s no way of knowing exactly what caused it to collapse."
The state Department of Labor of Industries is investigating the deadly accident.
"The workmen were pretty traumatized. There’s a lot of emotional stuff that goes with losing a coworker, of course," Stamper said.
Guemes Island, accessible only by Skagit County ferry, is located just north of Anacortes.