02.06.2008

Mayor confirms Criminal investigation

Mayor Bloomberg of New York has confirmed reports that the Manhattan District Attorneys' office has launched a criminal probe into the tower crane accident, which killed the operator Donald Leo and fellow construction worker Ramadan Kurtaj, 27 on Friday.

The investigation will centre on the slew ring assembly that failed in the accident, following reports that it may be the same one that was removed from a crane in 2007 after it was found to have cracks. It will look at who repaired it, who inspected it and whether it was fit to reuse.

The crane an aging Kodiak luffing jib crane is owned by JF Lomma/New York Crane Service, the same company that owned the Favelle Favco luffer that collapsed on March 15th, killing seven.