A tragic incident in Seattle has propelled a South Pasadena couple into a mission to enhance crane safety regulations. Andrea Wang and Henry Wong founded the Crane Safety Research Center at the Georgia Institute of Technology after their daughter, Sarah Pantip Wong, lost her life in a tower crane accident on April 27, 2019. The couple is determined to ensure that no other family experiences a similar loss.
Wang and Wong were adjusting to their daughter’s new chapter at Seattle Pacific University when the accident occurred. Sarah, a 19-year-old nursing student, was riding in an Uber when a tower crane fell from a construction site, crushing her vehicle and taking the lives of four individuals. The couple has since channeled their grief into advocacy, seeking to address regulatory gaps in the construction industry that endanger both workers and the public.
“To me, it feels like this happened yesterday,” Wong, 69, remarked, highlighting the lasting impact of their daughter’s death. The couple’s journey began with extensive research into the accident, leading them to establish their foundation and research center. They view their work as a moral obligation. “I don’t really think we had a choice,” Wang, 59, stated.
Innovative Research and Legislative Efforts
In partnership with researchers at Georgia Tech, the Crane Safety Research Center has made significant strides in crane safety research. Recently, two Georgia Tech students received top honors at the American Society of Mechanical Engineers conference in Anaheim. PhD candidate Tyler Rome won the Best Paper Award for his research on predicting crane payload behavior, while master’s student Will Barclay secured second place for his study on reducing payload twist oscillations.
Christopher J. Adams, assistant director at the Crane Safety Research Center, expressed pride in their achievements, noting,
“We’re proud of the fact we had five papers accepted, and to get Best Paper was really special.”
The recognition not only reflects the center’s work but also serves as a tribute to Sarah’s legacy.
The couple chose Georgia Tech for their research center due to Professor William Singhose, a leading expert in crane safety. Singhose emphasized the importance of the couple’s advocacy, stating,
“I can’t believe they’ve taken such a tragedy, survived it and then turned it around and tried to do good with it.”
In addition to their research efforts, Wang and Wong are active in legislative reform. Following Sarah’s death, they collaborated with the Washington State Labor and Industries agency to revise tower crane regulations. Their efforts culminated in the introduction of HB 2022, a bill aimed at imposing stricter work zone regulations and criminal penalties for unsafe practices during crane operations. They witnessed Governor Jay Inslee sign the bill into law in January 2024.
Preserving Memories While Advocating for Change
The couple continues to honor their daughter’s memory in their daily lives. They maintain Sarah’s bedroom in their South Pasadena home, filled with her belongings and mementos. As Wang described, “We still enter her room as if she is still with us. Respecting her space.”
In the aftermath of the tragedy, they have participated in various memorial activities, including candlelight walks and visits to the accident site in Seattle, where friends and family gathered to pay their respects. The community’s response has provided solace, helping them navigate their grief while advocating for a safer future.
Through the Sarah Pantip Wong Foundation, they promote values of compassion and kindness, emphasizing the importance of leaving others better than one finds them. The foundation aims to create safer communities and empower young women, reflecting the principles that Sarah embraced during her life.
As the couple continues their advocacy, they express hope that their efforts will prevent future tragedies. “It is our hope that the Crane Safety Research Center will help ensure no other family experiences the devastation of losing a loved one due to a crane collapse,” Wang stated, reiterating their commitment to making a meaningful impact in Sarah’s name.
