Police Say Crane Was Deliberately Tampered with in N.Y. Accident

April 13, 2007 • The 100-foot boom on a crane fell at a construction cite in Monticello, N.Y., this week, and local authorities believe someone intentionally caused the accident to occur. Police believe someone familiar with crane operations deliberately caused the boom to fall at the seven-story luxury condo development project mid-morning on Monday, according to news reports on the incident.

 

Police said the brake drum on the crane was covered in oil, and the brake mechanism was bound with wire to prevent it from engaging. After falling over, the boom wound up bent over the steel frame of the 92-unit condo development. No one was injured in the accident.

 

Police said the crane owner, a non-union employer, apparently has been threatened during other projects, which were rooted in union vs. non-union disputes. Union members have been picketing the Monticello site, but police do not believe union picketers were involved in the tampering incident. The FBI may be called into the investigation because of the threats to the crane owner.