07.11.2020

Double boom lift fatality

A 135ft articulated boom lift overturned in Bethany Beach, Delaware earlier this week, with the two men working from the platform dying from their injuries.

The men, Jovan Maldonado, 23, and Bryan Maldonado Andino, 22, were employees of telecoms company Velex and were using a Genie Z-135 from the Sunbelt Rentals fleet to install mobile phone antenna this Monday on a large water tower. The winds were however reported to be in the region of 30 to 40mph – or 13.5 to 18 metres a second. The maximum speed recommended is 12.5 metres a second.
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They were working at a height of around 36 to 37 metres - just slightly below the maximum - and were reportedly side-on to the wind direction, when a gust took the machine over. The boom also became entangled in overhead power lines as it went down.

Delaware State Police stated: “This remains an active and ongoing investigation. Division of Forensic Science and US Occupational Safety & Health (OSHA) are assisting with the investigation. Anyone with information should contact Detective P. Hailey with Delaware State Police Troop 4 Criminal Investigative Unit by calling 302-752-3810 or emailing [email protected]."

The following video is a local news bulletin.