A New York City crane accident that killed two workers has led to manslaughter charges against the crane's owner and a former mechanic, according to the Associated Press.
The Manhattan District Attorney's office accuses the owner and mechanic of hiring a Chinese company to repair the crane by welding a critical component that failed, leading to the death of the workers in the New York City construction accident, which occurred in May 2008.
The weld failed after a month of use, sending pieces of the 200-foot-tall crane crashing into an apartment building and killing the 30-year-old crane operator and a 27-year-old co-worker. A third construction worker was seriously injured.
The crane accident on Manhattan's Upper East Side occurred just two months after another crane owned by the defendant collapsed in Manhattan. That accident killed seven people.
The accidents increased awareness of the dangers such enormous cranes pose to employees and bystanders as they work at dozens of locations throughout the city.
Buildings Commissioner Robert LiMandri called the charges "an important reminder" of the responsibilities construction companies have to ensure safety and said the agency has increased training requirements for crane operators and inspectors since the collapses.
The District Attorney's office accuses the crane's owner of hiring a little-known company over the Internet to conduct repairs for $20,000, after two other companies said the repairs would take at least seven months and cost $34,000.
The defendants each face up to 15 years in prison if convicted.
If you or a loved one has been seriously injured or killed in a construction accident, call the New York City injury lawyers and wrongful death attorneys at Queller, Fisher, Washor, Fuchs & Kool for a free and confidential appointment to discuss your rights. Call 866-LifeLaw (866-543-3529).
