The community gave an outpouring of support for a young family killed when concrete collapsed along a highway during a vigil Tuesday.
Josh Ellis, a song leader, and Vanessa, a youth pastor, were driving in a truck with their son Hudson, when a 20-foot length of concrete fell on top of them.
"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."
Ludlow said the Ellis' radiated positivity.
“It just was ‘bam’ and they’re in the presence of God,” lead pastor Ludlow said. “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."
Eastpointe Church Sermon 10-12-2014 from EPC video feed on Vimeo.
The pastor said 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.
East Pierce firefighters said workers in Bonney Lake were installing a sidewalk on Highway 410 when a 20-foot long concrete railing, a permanent part of the overpass, fell onto the cab of the truck on Angeline Road East.
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.
General contractor WHH Nisqually 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.
It was standing room only as hundreds of people packed the church for the vigil.
“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. There is a GoFundMe account here, for any donations to the family's memorial fund.
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