NYC Tower Crane Collapse Kills Seven

March 17, 2008 • Six construction workers and a woman visiting New York City for St. Patrick's Day were killed Saturday when a tower crane toppled at an apartment tower construction site on Manhattan's East Side. Some 24 people were injured, according to news reports, including 11 first-responders. Six buildings were damaged or destroyed as the crane traveled end over end.

One lattice portion of the luffing-jib crane, reported to be a Favco model, landed on the street in a rain of bricks and construction debris, while another came to rest against a standing building. The accident occurred when a steel collar fell as workers were jumping the crane. That collar in turn damaged a lower collar already supporting the crane, and caused the mast to tumble.

 

News photos of the developing story showed hydraulic cranes from Bay Crane and JF Lomma, both local crane companies, working to remove the downed tower sections and clear debris from the area.

 

News media reported the crane had been inspected by city officials last Friday and no violations were found. The construction site had been cited for several minor infractions that were not related to the crane, which was supplied by New York Crane, according to early news reports.

Source: The New York Times