22.07.2012

‘Crane accident’ is not a crane

An accident at the University of Washington campus in Seattle on Saturday was not a crane, in spite of the dozens of reports that claimed it was.

The incident concerned a very large demolition excavator which was breaking up a building on sire when a very large chunk of concrete – said to weigh 40,000lbs (18 tonnes) fell onto the machines cab trapping the 53 year old operator.

He was eventually rescued and is said to be in critical condition.
Virtually all of the local print and TV news services called the machine a crane, giving several crane owners a fright. The man was reported to be improving although he has serious head and leg injuries.
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The demolition machine - not a crane