IrishCarBombs Posted March 15, 2008 Share Posted March 15, 2008 NEW YORK (March 15) - A crane mounted to the side of a skyscraper under construction toppled with a roar Saturday, smashing into a block of apartment buildings, killing at least four people according to local news channel NY1 and setting off a scramble for survivors in the rubble. The collapsing crane demolished parts of several buildings on Manhattan's East Side, appeared to have pulverized one small, brick apartment building, and sent up a huge dust cloud over the neighborhood. Fire Department officials said at least four people were dead and several others were taken to hospitals. An intensive, but delicate rescue operation was under way to free anyone still trapped in the rubble. Firefighters searched piles of rubble, several stories high, looking for victims, according to television reports. John PlaGreco, who owns Fu Bar in the crushed building, said he feared one of his employees was dead in the rubble. "Our bar is done," he said. "The crane crashed the whole building. If I wasn't watching a Yankees game, I would've come to work early and gotten killed." About 19 of the 44 stories of the high-rise condominium had been erected, and the crane was scheduled to be extended Saturday so workers could start work on a fresh story, said an owner of the company that manages the construction site. A piece of steel fell and sheared off one of the ties holding it to the building, causing it to detached and topple, said Stephen Kaplan, an owner of the Reliance Construction Group. "It was an absolute freak accident," Kaplan said. "All the piece of steel had to do was fall slightly left or right, and nothing would have happened." Kaplan said the company had subcontracted the work to different companies and was not in charge of the crane. He wasn't sure if any workers at the site were among those killed. Neighborhood residents said they had complained to the city several times about the construction at the site, saying crews worked illegal hours and the building was going up too fast. Nearby residents reported hearing a terrible roar as the structure detached from the condominium. "First I heard a rumble, and it increased, and then it increased," said Bill Reilly, who lives a block away. "It continued building in strength until there was a final vroom! It shook the six-story brick building that I live in." The crane split into pieces as it fell. Part of it came to rest against an apartment tower, smashing into its upper floors. That building and others in the area were evacuated. Another piece hit other buildings on the block, ripping away walls and ceilings and crushing the small brick building. Witnesses reported a strong smell of gas in the area on 51st Street near 2nd Avenue. Gas utility Consolidated Edison said it shut off service to area buildings. Ben Galati, 54, said he was in the basement of a high-rise apartment building across the street where he is a doorman. "I heard a rumble outside. I said 'Let's get out of here!' And then the crane came down. A split second later, I heard an explosion," he said. Maureen Shey, who lives diagonal from the building where the crane collapsed, said she was on the phone laying on her bed when she saw the giant white crane heading straight for her windows. "I heard a big crash, and I saw dust immediately. Bricks were flying through the air. I saw the whole thing. I thought the crane was coming in my window," she said. The crane ended up missing her building. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IrishCarBombs Posted March 15, 2008 Author Share Posted March 15, 2008 i think its now 4 dead, 10 injured, 3 critical condition. FDNY & NYPD are still looking for surviors Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
After School Special Posted March 15, 2008 Share Posted March 15, 2008 4 LESS YANKEES FANS AMIRITE? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
After School Special Posted March 15, 2008 Share Posted March 15, 2008 I kid I kid, RIP. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IrishCarBombs Posted March 15, 2008 Author Share Posted March 15, 2008 4 less people that would kick your ass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
After School Special Posted March 15, 2008 Share Posted March 15, 2008 Hahaha, doubt it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bojangles Posted March 15, 2008 Share Posted March 15, 2008 I can't believe one of these can do so much damage! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hatetown Posted March 15, 2008 Share Posted March 15, 2008 crane on steroids Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
After School Special Posted March 15, 2008 Share Posted March 15, 2008 Hahaha bojangles :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Overtime Posted March 15, 2008 Share Posted March 15, 2008 Good Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abracadabra Posted March 15, 2008 Share Posted March 15, 2008 without photos this thread is worthless Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
podrido Posted March 16, 2008 Share Posted March 16, 2008 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abracadabra Posted March 16, 2008 Share Posted March 16, 2008 nice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferris Bueller Posted March 16, 2008 Share Posted March 16, 2008 WHERE'S GUILIANI? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GLIK$ Posted March 16, 2008 Share Posted March 16, 2008 yeah b thank god i was just gettin on the Deegan when I got the call to avoid the FDR that shit woulda straight ruined my night having to sit in traffic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GLIK$ Posted March 16, 2008 Share Posted March 16, 2008 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Decyferon Posted March 16, 2008 Share Posted March 16, 2008 thats crazy, i always wondered what would happen if one of those cranes collapsed, now i have my answer or the huge concrete counterbalances slipping and just falling on you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elizabeth MontgomeryOner Posted March 16, 2008 Share Posted March 16, 2008 no bueno, those mega cranes are all over right now "high-rise condominium" ... the city's physically rejecting the construction of ridiculously priced condos so wild Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harvey Wallbanger Posted March 17, 2008 Share Posted March 17, 2008 That last picture is fucking bananas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Theo Huxtable. Posted March 17, 2008 Share Posted March 17, 2008 collapsed lung, look how many gats i brung Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HESHIANDET Posted March 17, 2008 Share Posted March 17, 2008 i hate that fucking neighborhood and the swine that inhabit it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gat Bush Posted March 17, 2008 Share Posted March 17, 2008 I wish I'd get merked'ded by a crane collapse. I'd be so rich. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prime Chaos Posted March 17, 2008 Share Posted March 17, 2008 i read an article earlier that was saying that that site had tons of unsafe condition reports and that city inspectors were on site at the time of the collapse following up another complaint of unsafe conditions. it was the construction companies fault for having a shitty and unsafe site.. RIP though to those dead, a crane came down near where i live last summer. only killed one person but i went and saw the damage it was crazy to see a big crane all twisted laying in a building. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gat Bush Posted March 17, 2008 Share Posted March 17, 2008 All large construction sites have violations. Mayor Scumberg said so himself. Probably to save face, I imagine, but still... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prime Chaos Posted March 17, 2008 Share Posted March 17, 2008 yeah but they were on the verge of getting shut down Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shai Posted March 17, 2008 Share Posted March 17, 2008 Looks like the site got shut down the hard way....RIP. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oliver Clothesoff Posted March 17, 2008 Share Posted March 17, 2008 somebody didnt pay the inspector off Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GucciCondom Posted March 17, 2008 Share Posted March 17, 2008 Shit like this bugs me out. Nothing is safe anymore. Now I gotta worry about walking down the street and having some big shit fall on me cus some construction fuck didn't want to do his job correctly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
viperface Posted March 17, 2008 Share Posted March 17, 2008 like dude said, the whole accident is basically a big ridiculous cake of bad coincidence. Chances to get killed in manhattan, by a falling crane, are still mighty slim. probably almost non-existant after this Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesbian Fisting Posted March 18, 2008 Share Posted March 18, 2008 RIP I was eating a few blocks from here when it happened. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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