The widow of an office worker who was killed in a crane collapse in downtown Kelowna, B.C., nearly two years ago has filed a lawsuit claiming the construction company’s negligence led to her husband’s death.

Helen Furuya lost her husband, Brad Zawislak, when the steel crane crashed into his office building on July 12, 2021.

“As a result of the aforementioned accident, Brad Zawislak was killed, whereby his wife was deprived of his love, guidance, care, services, training and financial support,” read a statement of claim filed in B.C. Supreme Court on Wednesday.

Five people were killed in the incident, which happened on the construction site of the Brooklyn at Bernard Block condo tower.

The lawsuit is the first claim from the victims’ families as they wait for answers from ongoing criminal and workplace investigations. 

The claim said Zawislak, 43, was working as a senior technologist for Protech Consulting when he died. The civil engineering firm’s office is next door to the construction zone.

Keep reading on cbc.ca