Heavy snow and wind cause 565-foot crane to fall in Manhattan

The winter storms this year have created deadly conditions throughout the city. Icy sidewalks cause falls that can be fatal. Shoveling snow can result in deadly heart attacks. It would seem that the gods have conspired to continue the bad luck from 2020 into 2021.

For construction workers, high winds and snow apparently thwarted their efforts to keep the people of New York safe during the routine act of lowering a crane on February 5.

Crane falls on parked cars

The decision to choose rush hour to lower a crawler crane onto a busy street in Lower Manhattan resulted in catastrophe and chaos. While considered structurally sound after an inspection the previous day, the snow and wind appeared to be too much, and it capsized. As the 565-foot crane plummeted towards the ground, workers scrambled to clear the streets filled with traffic and terrified pedestrians running for their very lives.

While innumerable lives were saved, a 38-year-old man was in the wrong place at the wrong time. As he exited his parked car, the crane fell on a row of vehicles, resulting in his death. While at least three others were injured, Mayor Bill de Blasio called it a miracle that more were not killed or harmed.

New Yorkers should know that severe and deadly risks still remain. The aftermath of the horrific event may result in gas leaks from underground mains impacted by the crane falling. To date, inspectors have checked but have not found any gas leaks.