23.11.2008

Log loader crane death

The Kane County coroner’s court, in Illinois, ruled last week that the failure of a home made log loading crane that killed its owner and designer was an accident.

The man Jeffrey Gring, 54, owner of JMG Tree Company, died when the boom of the crane broke loose, knocked him out of the operator’s seat and landed on him.

The accident occurred in Campton Hills, near Chicago, on September 19th, Geng was said to had died almost instantly.

Gring's sister, speaking at the inquest said he was an "inventor-type" who had laboured over the crane, which was mounted to one of his trucks "He absolutely loved this piece of machinery and was always making stuff and trying to find a better way to do something."
Please register to see all images

Geng operating his crane

OSHA representatives determined that the base of the equipment had several recent welds which "were not very good." They also said that crane would never have passed an inspection.