06.03.2025

Fatal boom lift incident

A man died at the end of January after his boom lift was struck by a bus in New York City.
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We are told that the bus clipped the riser's knuckle – note the ladder on the shop front ledge

The man, Vladamir Cruz, 39 was working from the platform of a JLG 600AJ articulated boom lift from the Sunbelt Rentals fleet on the night of Sunday, January 26th.
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The boom remained upright – if only he had been retained in the platform

He was apparently changing a large billboard on the front of the Victoria Secret store at the corner of 5th Avenue and East 51st street, when, according to our local source, an MTA bus clipped the half raised riser knuckle of the platform, which must have been protruding into the street, throwing Cruz from the platform from a height of around five to six metres.
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The bus was only slightly damaged

He was rushed to hospital but declared dead on arrival. Two things spring to mind, one there was no apparent cordoning off and two, he could not have been wearing a harness, as the boom lift was barely damaged.