The crane is being used to build the state’s new forensic psychiatric hospital.
LAKEWOOD, Wash. — A patient at Western State Hospital in Lakewood has died after accessing a construction crane on the property and jumping or falling from it, according to KING 5 sources. The crane is being used in the construction of the facility’s new 350 bed hospital.
A hospital staff member who did not want to be identified for fear of retaliation said the event has been difficult for all employees and they are looking for answers.
“People are very sad. They’re really upset that this even happend. (The construction zone) obviously wasn’t secured,” said the staffer who has direct contact with patients. “It’s a failure somewhere.”
On Monday the CEO of Western State, Mark Thompson, sent an email to staff, which KING 5 has obtained.
“This morning, the construction team working on the new forensic hospital project informed us that an individual had been found on their job site deceased,” wrote Thompson. “Lakewood Police and Medical Examiner arrived promptly to the scene to investigate. During the course of this investigation, the identity of the individual was confirmed to be the patient who did not return from court-ordered unescorted grounds privileges yesterday.”
Staff at Western State were on alert Sunday when the male patient didn’t return to the hospital after an authorized off campus outing, according to sources. Staff conducted a thorough search without success.
It’s unclear what kind of security measures were utilized at the construction site. Clark Construction is the general contractor for the project.
KING 5 obtained a photo from a Western State Hospital employee, taken within the last 24 hours, which shows an unsecured entry point to the construction site. It is unclear if the patient accessed the crane from this point. In the photo the crane can be seen on the far left.
KING 5 is unable to confirm if the entry point pictured below has since been secured.
The Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS), which operates Western State, sent KING 5 the statement they originally provided to staff, confirming the death.
“Leadership from DSHS’ Gage Center at Western State Hospital have been in touch with the person’s family, and we are following our processes that take place when a patient passes away unexpectedly,” the statement reads, in part. “DSHS extends our condolences and offers our support to the family of the person who died in this tragic event as well as to our employees and partners. We will share more information if it is available.”
The Governor’s Office has not commented on the death.
The death is the latest in a long string of safety problems documented at Western State – the state’s largest psychiatric hospital that treats patients with acute mental illnesses. Most patients enter the hospital from the criminal justice system.
In 2018 Western State lost federal Medicaid accreditation for a series of deficiencies, including lapses in physical environment and facility safety. The loss of certification cost the state $53 million a year in federal funding to help run the hospital. Other safety concerns have centered on a high rate of patient on patient and patient on staff assaults.
It’s unclear what kind of security measures were utilized at the construction site. A photo obtained by KING 5 shows a gap in a fence leading to the construction zone.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org. Visit Vibrant Emotional Health’s Safe Space for digital resources.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.