18.02.2016
Rescue crane overturn
A wrecker crane overturned yesterday in Mason City, Iowa, while removing a burnt out trailer from the highway.
The whole incident began when a trailer load of confectionary caught fire on highway 18 in the area which is north west of Cedar Rapids. The tractor unit was quickly removed and the fire was eventually extinguished and the recovery crane brought in.
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The burning trailer
For some reason the crane set up well away from the trailer with what looks like short outrigger set up. Lifting at what seems to be an unnecessarily long radius the crane then simply overturned onto the burnt out wreck.
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The rescue crane looks to have been poorly set up for the lift
Darrin Thompson
Rotator tow trucks are becoming a problem when used to do crane work. I've seen an instance where they were used at a marina to put the sail boats in the water come spring time.