According to CNN, one person was killed and three others were injured this morning when a 565-foot crane collapsed in Lower Manhattan. Of the injured, two sustained serious – but not life-threatening – injuries.
At Petri Plumbing, our hearts go out to the victims of this tragedy and their families.
Manhattan resident David Wichs, who was sitting in a parked car, was the lone fatality in the incident. The three injuries were caused by falling debris.
Fortunately, injuries and fatalities were limited because construction workers were keeping traffic and pedestrians away from the busy street as the crawler crane was being lowered into a secure position. According to Mayor Bill de Blasio, the crane was required by the manufacturer to be secured when winds reached 25 mph.
Following this morning’s collapse, all 376 crawler cranes and 53 tower cranes currently in operation in New York were ordered to be immediately secured as a precaution.
Building inspectors were at the site yesterday, and the work was found to be in full compliance of regulations, and city officials report that there were no reports or violations at the construction site. The cause of of the collapse is being investigated by the police and building department officials.
Utility inspectors are checking for gas leaks in case the impact of the collapse caused damage to underground gas mains. Some buildings in the immediate area have been evacuated due to potential gas leaks and parapets that were in danger of collapsing.
“The fact is this is a very, very sad incident,” said Mayor de Blasio. “We lost a life. Thank God it was not worse.”
Witnesses in the area say the impact of the collapse felt like an earthquake, and others report hearing a loud rumbling sound.
More than 40 units and 140 firefighters responded to the scent at 40 Worth Street and West Broadway following the collapse. New York Law School was also evacuated, and all classes are cancelled until Monday.
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