04.02.2007

Rough Terrain topples onto freeway

A Link Belt Rough Terrain crane toppled over onto the I-405 freeway outside the Galleria at Sherman Oaks in Los Angeles on Friday, trapping its operator and triggering a collision between a tipper truck and an SUV when they tried to avoid the cranes boom.

The crane had fully extended its main boom over the front without extending its outriggers, it then fell over to the left landing on its cab side.

Fire-fighters were called to rescue the crane operator who was trapped in his cab for more than an hour. A fire department spokesman said that the operator, a 44-year-old man, suffered rib fractures and severe injuries to his left hand but was conscious and alert. A helicopter flew the victim to hospital.
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The crane caused chaos on Friday evening

The early afternoon accident shut down the northbound side of Interstate 405 near U.S. 101 stranding thousands of motorists for over three hours.

The truck and SUV struck the freeway's central barrier before hitting the cranes boom, neither driver was seriously injured.

Vertikal Comment

How is if that so many crane drivers, particularly in North America, do not seem to understand the laws of physics? The number of tip overs like this due to the lack of outriggers is amazing, in the summer hardly a week goes by. In this day and age sure this sort of accident should be a thing of the past?

If you have an opinion on this let us hear it on the Vertikal forum.