Crane Accident Crushes NYC Construction Worker
A 38-year-old construction worker was killed in the Bronx last week. According to the Associated Press, Michael Tristan Mananghaya was working just outside of Bronx-Lebanon hospital when the accident occurred. According to witnesses, he “didn’t stand a chance” when an industrial sized air-conditioner plunged from the crane and fell on top of him.
The air conditioning unit was 40-feet long and was being guided into place on top of the hospital on E. 173rd Street and Grand Concourse. It was being lifted from a flatbed below, near where Mananghaya was standing.
Witnesses described an eerie “snap” followed by the earth’s shaking when the unit landed. Then, there was silence.
It took nearly an hour to lift the unit from Mananghaya. This tragic and particularly troubling accident demonstrates the dangers of working with cranes. Though the unit initially fell back onto the flatbed from which it had been lifted, it rolled off and onto the ground where Mananghaya stood.
“The fire department showed up minutes after but they had to figure out they will get the hydraulic jacks underneath to lift it up to be able to actually get him between the wall and this unit to get to him and stabilize him,” said one witness, according to CBN-News. “I was scared, I was actually just a few feet away from this thing, when you look at it, I could have been the one underneath this thing.”
Using cranes, hoists, and derricks to lift heavy loads can be a recipe for disaster on construction sites. This is part of the reason we see so many crane accidents ending tragically, as this one did. For that reason, safety when using such equipment is crucial.
In NYC, cranes are common on job sites. With buildings going up and not necessarily out, cranes are needed in just about every new construction. This means the risk of a crane accident is high.
Crane accidents don’t just stand to injure the person operating the crane, but other workers on the site and anyone within the area of construction. When a crane collapses, the potential injury area is great. Fortunately, when an accident like this happens, there are advocates to help the injured parties obtain justice.
The construction accident attorneys of Ginarte Law, based in New York and New Jersey, know the risks involved in crane operations and daily construction work. If you are injured in a construction accident, we may be able to help. Contact us today to discuss your case and your legal options.
