29.10.2008

We have the facts

We published a report on Monday, concerning a photograph we had received of a boom lift that had tipped over and crushed a mini bus.
We were not sure if it was a real incident or a hoax. Since our request for details four different readers have sent us information.
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The boom came crashing down across a parked minibus

The accident happened during the Kiwi Challenge golf tournament at the luxurious Kauri Cliffs golf resort in Northland.(A part of the Challenge was also played at the Cape Kidnappers course in Hawkes Bay) The tournament was being broadcast at the time and the boom was being used to raise communication antennae in order to get a clear signal over the nearby cliffs.

The antennae were located on the platform and the boom of the JLG 1350 was fully raised and fully extended with the superstructure slewed over the side. The boom is apparently owned by Rich Rigging and Welding and had been cross hired to an access rental company.

A freak gust of wind of over 70 knotts, caught the machine head on, which combined with the lack of weight in the platform and the fully raised boom caused it to go over backwards. It was also confirmed that no one was hurt in the incident.
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The bus is certainly a write off

The boom came down across a parked van in an adjoining car park. One reader said that while no one was in the van a man was working on it just beforehand having changed one of the tyres, another said that the machine had been left fully extended overnight when it went over.
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A crane was brought in to right the lift

A mobile crane was called in to right the lift, and after an inspection the local JLG technicians were able to partially retract the boom and dismantle the rest and then retract the axles so that the lift was able to be transported to the JLG yard in Auckland.

See original report

Many thanks to all of you who took the time to provide the above information.