Father-to-be, 21, dies after construction accident on Harbor Island

A 21-year-old father-to-be died Friday on his fifth day on the job in a construction accident on Harbor Island.

A 30-foot steel beam slid off a forklift and struck Spencer Clark Harrington in the head and stomach, according to state officials and Harrington's family. The accident occurred between 8:30 and 9 a.m. at Seattle Bulk Rail in the 3200 block of 16th Avenue Southeast, according to the Department of Labor and Industries (L&I).

Harrington was taken to Harborview Medical Center, where he died about 1:30 p.m.

L&I is investigating the accident to determine whether safety rules were followed.

Calls Monday to Seattle Bulk Rail were directed to part-owner Eric Rangeloff, who had no comment.

Karen Joy Wilburn, Harrington's girlfriend, said Harrington's co-worker Jose Alvarez drove to her house and woke her Friday morning. "He said, 'Spencer's hurt. We have to go,'" she said Monday.

Alvarez drove her to the hospital but refused to tell her exactly what had happened. "He didn't want me to get upset," Wilburn said.

Wilburn is six months pregnant. "The baby is what I have left of him," she said.

Harrington, who was born in Tacoma, had moved in with Wilburn at a Tukwila home about five months ago.

Wilburn said she and Harrington had decided to get married once their child was old enough to walk and participate in the ceremony.

They had been trying to decide on baby names. Now, she said, if the baby is a boy, she'll name him after his father.

Lindsay Toler: 206-464-2463 or ltoler@seattletimes.com