by
Queens Ledger
A one-block work site along the East River in Long Island City was secured and under close watch Wednesday afternoon after a large crane collapsed.
Seven construction workers were sent to area hospitals with injuries they suffered after the large crane collapsed around 2:20 p.m. at Center Boulevard and 46th Avenue, according to Deputy Fire Chief Mark Ferran.
“Right now were checking out the site with building engineers to make sure the crane is safe and we can secure the site,” he said, standing among numerous fire units and responders at the scene.
He said that police, fire and EMS workers arrived immediately on the scene and were able to rescue the victims from the mangled scaffolding without any difficulties, all of whom suffered only minor injuries.
“Initial units on the scene discovered three workers trapped underneath the crane,” Ferran explained. “The workers were under the crane in certain areas in twisted metal.”
Ferran said the Department of Buildings engineers are still investigating the cause of the collapse.
“Such accidents are avoidable, and I am hopeful a comprehensive investigation will be conducted to discover why [this] frightening incident occurred,” said State Senator Michael Gianaris.
Don “Bear” Snook, contractor with Feldman Lumber in Brooklyn, had just parked his truck within feet of the crane moments before, delivering stringers to lay plywood at the project.
“As soon as I heard the noise, I hit the ground,” Snook said, hands still shaking from the crash. “I was hoping it wasn’t going to be a piece of that crane.”
According to Snook, around 50 workers were assembling scaffolding at the time of the accident, one of whom broke his ankle.
