A New York City crane accident on 97th Street and Columbus Avenue last week caved in a sidewalk shed over a pedestrian walkway, startling pedestrians and drawing a large crowd of firefighters, building inspectors, police officers, pedestrians and residents.
The New York crane accident lawyers at Queller, Fisher, Washor, Fuchs & Kool continue to monitor instances of crane accidents in New York City after several high-profile crane failures have led to the serious injury and death of innocent bystanders and exposed lax inspection standards and other safety violations.
The mobile crane on the northeast corner of 97th Street at 775 Columbus was being demobilized for the day when it hit the sidewalk shed, collapsing part of it onto the walkway below, according to a New York City Department of Buildings spokesperson Ryan Fitzgibbon. No injuries were immediately reported, but the street was temporarily closed off immediately after the accident, according to a report in the Columbia Inspector.
The newspaper reported the site of the crane accident is a 13-story building under construction by Columbus Square developers, the Chetrit Group and Stellar Management.
Cause of the accident remains under investigatation.
Fitzgibbon reported that the Department of Buildings, which inspects and regulates cranes in New York City, issued violations to two companies, U.S Crane and Rigging LLC and PWV Acquisitions LLC, along with a violation to the crane operator.
Fines, which could be in the range of $25,000, will be determined in court at the completion of the investigation.
"If I lived there, I'd be scared," said Sam Kim, pointing to the 20-story residential building that sits in the crane's shadow. "They made a really big deal, but it is dangerous."
The New York City Building Department licenses more than 1,700 crane operators. Several high-profile crane accidents, including a May 2008 incident that killed two people after a crane slammed into the penthouse of a nearby building, has increased the focus on crane safety.
Common causes of fatal crane accidents include power line injuries, dropped loads, collapsing booms, overturned cranes and rigging failures.
If you or someone you love has been seriously injured or killed by a crane, the New York City crane accident attorneys at Queller, Fisher, Washor, Fuchs & Kool offer free appointments to discuss your rights. Call (212) 406-1700.
