4 dead and 3 wounded after the collapse of a crane: Officials

Four people were killed and three others injured, according to police and firefighters, following a crane crash in Seattle Saturday afternoon.

Around 3:30 pm a crane from a construction site fell and crashed six cars near the intersection of Fairview Avenue North and Mercer Street, according to the Seattle Fire Department.

A few hours later, officials announced the deaths of three men and one woman. Two of them were in the crane and two in separate vehicles, said Lance Garland, Seattle firefighter and spokesman.

Three people – a 28-year-old man, a 25-year-old woman and a 4-month-old baby – were transferred to a nearby hospital with life-threatening injuries.

The mother and her baby were released, while the man remains at Harbourview Hospital in satisfactory condition.

One of the victims, Sarah Wong, a student at Seattle Pacific University, was in a car on Mercer Street when the crane fell, the school said in a statement. Wong was a freshman with a major in nursing and lived on campus, according to the university.

"As we mourn the sudden and tragic loss of our precious pupil, we comfort ourselves, our strong community of faith and the presence of God with us in times of sorrow," said the school in a statement. "We are asking the community to join us in praying for Sarah's family and friends during this difficult time."

Before it collapsed, the crane was being dismantled on two technological buildings – one owned by Google – that are nearing completion, said Mike McQuaid, chairman of the transport board of the South Lake Union Community Council.

The part of the crane where the operator is sitting or working inside is reversed.

Washington Governor Jay Inslee presented "his most sincere condolences to the family and friends" of the victims and "a speedy and complete recovery" for the wounded.

Traffic will be reoriented around Sunday evening, police officials said.

Construction company GLY Construction said in a statement that she was "deeply saddened and sorry" by the accident that occurred on her work site.

"Our deepest condolences and condolences go out to the families, friends and colleagues of those who were killed in this tragic accident," reads the statement. "We are hopeful for those who have been injured and wish that they recover their state of health as soon as possible".

The company and its subcontractors are investigating the incident and "cooperating fully" with the authorities in their investigation, the statement said.

Sabina Ghebremedhin, Joshua Hoyos and Mark Osborne of ABC News contributed to this story.