Crane collapses at Raleigh building site

Raleigh, N.C. — No one was injured Friday morning when a crane collapsed at an office building construction site, authorities said.

The incident occurred at 8317 Six Forks Road shortly after 10 a.m., authorities said. The building will house the offices of Genworth Mortgage Insurance Co., authorities said.

A crane operator was moving three pieces of steel onto the six-story building when the crane, which is owned by Roanoke Valley Steel, became unbalanced and failed, collapsing into the skeleton of the building, authorities said.

"I heard (a noise) like a cat being squeezed – just screeching and crying – and I looked out the window and (the crane) had fallen over," witness Steven Dieckhause said. "It started crumpling straight down. All the wires started crumbling around and everything. I thought one of those was going to kill somebody."

About 30 workers were at the building site when the crane collapsed, but none were injured.

"Everyone here is very fortunate," Raleigh Fire Department Battalion Chief Jerry Pace said. "It's an early Christmas present."

City building inspectors and investigators with the state Department of Labor were at the construction site Friday to determine what caused the collapse.

A second crane was brought to the site at about noon to help remove the wreckage, including some mangled steel beams.

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Latest Comments

probably too much rain :-)

dnguyen68
December 19, 2008 5:10 p.m.

"Todays construction attitude is build it quick an turn an burn the money an move on to the next project" I can tell you do not fequent many construction sites. VERY STRICT today compared to even a few years ago. Constructions accidents and deaths are way down in the last decade.

Crayzee1
December 19, 2008 4:38 p.m.

part of the apparent increase in crane accidents is the cities in which they have occurred in the past year. when a crane collapses in nyc we all hear about it, but when/if it happens in most other cities it's only local news. the fact that several crane collapses have been national news over the past year doesn't mean there have been more collapses overall.

mpheels
December 19, 2008 2:42 p.m.

Many factors can collectively contribute to such an incident as this. It's never just one 'thing' that causes an event such as this. Although, there's usually one weighted factor that causes the unstoppable cascade. Whether we're talking about physical condition of the crane operator, or their support staff, or general upkeep of the equipment, or weather conditions, work site conditions, preparation, communication, jobsite set up, etc.

GulfWarVet
December 19, 2008 2:16 p.m.

I work right across the street from the construction site, we heard a loud noise and our building shook a bit...thought someone had run into the building or something...now I know!