24.07.2023

Fatal crane overturn

A tower crane came down earlier today in the Swiss town of La Chaux-de-Fonds - due west of Neuchâtel on the border with France - with the tower landing on an occupied car killing the man in the driver's seat.

The crane an eight tonne Wolff WK 122 FL was set up near the train station on a counterweighted cruciform base and was taken down by a sudden and extreme, tornado-like storm that swept through the town, causing widespread damage to buildings and injuring around 40 others.
The official measuring station reported wind speeds of 217kph/135mph.
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The crane's tower flattened two cars, one which then caught fire. The man that died was said to be in his 50s and was declared dead at the scene. The storm was short lived, allowing mobile cranes to move in and clear the crane later on in the day.
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There is not much more to say on this, but if we learn anything new we will, of course update this item.