BONNEY LAKE, Wash. — A couple who died when a large concrete barrier fell from a highway overpass onto their pickup truck were youth ministers in their 20s and parents to a baby boy.
Quick Facts:
- Concrete fell from SR 410 overpass onto Angeline Road East
- Massive concrete chunk crushed cab of truck, killing three
- Workers were installing a sidewalk on SR 410
- Project being done by contractor WHH Nisqually
Remembering the Ellis family
"As many of you have heard or are hearing, our community and our church has suffered a tragedy," EastPointe Foursquare Church pastor James Ludlow wrote on Facebook.
"Our wonderful youth pastors, Josh & Vanessa Ellis, along with Hudson, their 8-month-old boy, immediately went to be with Jesus [Monday] morning at around 10 a.m."
Joanna Small heard from Ludlow, and he fought through tears as he talked about Josh and Vanessa, who were both in their mid-20s.
See photos of the family here. EastPointe Foursquare Church shared a GoFundMe account here, for any donations to the memorial fund.
“It just was ‘bam’ and they’re in the presence of God,” lead pastor Ludlow told KIRO 7.
“It’s difficult, it’s hard, it’s a sucker punch to the heart and both kidneys and the lungs at the same time. But the end of the day we know God will find gold in this ugly, dark place our kids are having to walk through right now."
Because that’s what he said the Ellis’ did; they radiated positivity. Vanessa was the youth pastor; Josh was the song leader, and their baby Hudson was just a congregation favorite.
“Hudson was everybody’s joy because he crawled around and smiled and acted like a little Gerber baby.”
Eastpointe Church Sermon 10-12-2014 from EPC video feed on Vimeo.
The pastor says the Ellis’ didn’t grow up in this church but the young couple has been here several years. They lived in Bonney Lake with Vanessa’s mother.
How did the concrete fall?
East Pierce firefighters said workers in Bonney Lake were installing a sidewalk on Highway 410 when a concrete railing, a permanent part of the overpass, fell onto the cab of the truck on Angeline Road East.
It was about 20 feet long.
A retired director of engineering for the Washington State Department of Transportation said investigators will likely focus on the cutting that was taking place on an overpass in Buckley when a concrete barrier fell, killing the family.
Stewart Gloyd was the director of bridge engineering for the WSDOT from 1972 to 1989. The overpass in Bonney Lake was built during his time at the DOT. Surveying the damage at the request of KIRO 7, Gloyd took note of a concrete cutting saw that remained at the job site and evidence workers had been sawing away rebars that fastened the barrier to the bridge deck.
“So to remove it they were cutting underneath it,” said Gloyd, “and it got away from them apparently.”
A huge portion of the concrete barrier, weighing at least two tons, landed squarely on top of a pickup truck carrying Josh and Vanessa along with their eight month old son Hudson killing them instantly.
Bonney Lake police are leading the investigation into their deaths. "It hits us all, we all have families, we all have children of our own, so to see something like this is rough," said Todd Green of Bonney Lake police.
The state department of Labor and Industries focuses on the construction accident itself. “They’re going to do the investigation as far as why the incident occurred,” said Bonney Lake police Officer Daron Wolschleger.
A spokeswoman for L and I said there was no information that department would release this early in the investigation.
Who is the contractor?
KIRO 7 is looking into general contractor WHH Nisqually. The contractor released the following statement.
"The WHH Nisqually Federal Services, LLC (WHH) employees and families send their sincerest condolences to the relatives and friends of the young family that died in the tragic accident on highway 410 in Bonney Lake yesterday. Words do not adequately express our grief, sorrow, and sympathy.
Out of respect for the victims' families, WHH will not comment on the cause of the accident until the investigation is complete and we are able to provide an accurate account of events. WHH has shut down the project re-emphasizing to our employees and subcontractors the overriding importance of safety to the project and the public.
Our thoughts and prayers also go out to the construction crews, first responders, and the investigators who were called upon to give assistance."
The company's subcontractor had three violations three years ago at a Marysville worksite.
Hundreds gathered at a church to remember the family
The sight of the crash was horrific but Pastor James says the Ellis’ church family isn’t angry—they’re just hurting, but eventually they’ll be healing and that painful process starts now.
“Our job right now is to do what they did best and that is to love well,” he said.
Later Tuesday, hundreds more packed the church for a vigil. There was standing room only-in the overflow room.
“It breaks my heart how sweet they were,” said Makayla Weishaupt in tears. She was in the youth group led by the couple. “I just miss them.”
“[They were] full of joy, just always happy,” said a friend of the couple. “They’d lift your spirits up just by being in the same room.”
The church says they have received an overwhelming and heartfelt outpouring of support and prayers from the community.
“It’s difficult, it’s hard, it’s a sucker punch to the heart and both kidneys and the lungs at the same time ... But...
Posted by KIRO 7 Eyewitness News on Tuesday, April 14, 2015
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