Skagit River Bridge to Honor Fallen Trooper

from the Washington State Senate Democrats

A plan to honor fallen State Patrol Trooper Sean M. O’Connell Jr. was approved Tuesday during a meeting of the Washington State Transportation Commission in Seattle.

The WSTC approved a request from 40th legislative district legislators Sen. Kevin Ranker and Reps. Jeff Morris and Kristine Lytton to name the Interstate 5 Skagit River Bridge the Trooper Sean M. O’Connell Jr. Memorial Bridge.

A portion of the bridge collapsed in May and Trooper O’Connell, 38, was killed in a traffic accident while directing traffic through detours setup as a result of the collapse.

“Trooper O’Connell represents the best our state has to offer,” Ranker said. “Naming the bridge in his honor is the least we can do to say thank you to him, his family and friends for his service and sacrifice to our state and its citizens.”

In addition to the letter sent from the 40th District contingent, the WTSC also received letters of support to honor Trooper O’Connell from Mount Vernon Mayor Jill Boudreau, Burlington Mayor Steve Sexton, Co-chair of the Senate Transportation Committee Sen. Tracey Eide, Chief of the Washington State Patrol John Batiste, the Regional Administrator of the Washington State Department of Transportation, Lorena Eng, and the Skagit County Commissioners.

“The Commission unanimously and enthusiastically agreed to name the bridge for Trooper O’Connell,” said Dan O’Neal, Chairman of the Washington State Transportation Commission. “I can’t think of a more fitting tribute.”