20.10.2014

Crane over in Houston

A five axle 170 tonne All Terrain crane overturned on Friday in west Houston, Texas dropping its boom into the back end of a car dealership yard.

The crane, a Grove GMK5225 operated by Circle 8 Crane Services of Houston, was working or setting up at a tower block construction site in Kirkwood when it went over. No counterweights appear to have been fitted and the outriggers on the side of the fall were either retracted or they have punched through into the ground. The outriggers to the rear are fully extended - the boom appears to have been fully extended at the time.

Thankfully no one was hurt and the even the operator walked away totally unharmed. Property damage - the crane excluded - was also light.
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A photo from the scene indicates an outrigger issue