A deadly crane accident in New York City killed one construction worker and injured three others. The massive construction crane collapsed onto a New York City street on February 5th crushing 50 cars and blocking the street for days. New York City mayor Bill de Blasio remarked to the press that it was a “miracle” that more people hadn’t been killed or injured.
38-year old David Wichs, a trader, was killed in this latest crane accident. He was crushed when the crane collapsed on top of him. Three construction workers were injured–two of them seriously–when the structure collapsed. All three were taken to a nearby hospital.
Records show that the machine operating at 60 Hudson Street was over 500 feet long and weighed multiple tons. Operators had been using it to replace generators and air conditioning equipment atop a nearby building’s roof. However, at the time of the accident the crane was in the process of being secured because of expected high winds. Investigators say it’s unclear what caused the crane to collapse but the accident site is in the process of being thoroughly investigated.
The Department of Buildings had inspected the machine just one day before the fatal crane accident in Manhattan and found it to be in total compliance with current city regulations. However, just three days after the accident, authorities announced that they would be putting additional restrictions on crane operations within city limits. Immediately after the accident, the mayor ordered that all 429 cranes in the city be secured.
If investigation into this crane accident in Manhattan shows that it was caused by negligence, the property owner, general contractor for the project and crane company could be held responsible for the injuries suffered by the three surviving construction workers but also for the tragic death of Mr. Wichs.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a similar accident, contact an expert New York City crane accident attorney today. Call the Law Offices of Nussin S. Fogel for a free consultation at or 212-385-1122 to learn your rights.