22.05.2013

Crane boom strikes car

A large lattice crane boom came down onto a highway in Gallatin, Tennessee yesterday hitting a passing car causing minor injuries to the driver.

The crane, a Terex/American 165 owned and operated by Mountain States Contractors, was working from a barge when strong winds hit the area, which may, or may not have contributed to the incident. What we do know is that the boom started coming down relatively slowly at first, but began gathering speed as it reached a lower angle. It landed on a line of sheet piles that formed a barrier between the job site and the highway - striking the boom around four metres or so from the tip.

The impact caused the lower chords of the boom to buckle and give-way, causing the boom nose to drop on to the passing car, destroying its entire engine compartment and creating a small crater in the road.

Fortunately the car's passenger compartment was left largely untouched. The passenger was unhurt, while the driver suffered minor injuries.
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The boom caught the front of the car

Accident investigators from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) are now on the scene.
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The recovery began very quickly in order to re-open the road