18.11.2008

Runaway crane crushes operator

The operator of a rough terrain crane that ran away on a hill in Greenwood village, south of Denver, died after he was crushed by the crane.

The Grove RT58, (possibly a 58B) cab down RT, is owned by a house builder and was being moved between jobs. It was travelling behind a pick up truck, which was acting as an escort. As the two vehicles headed down a hill, the crane began to pick up speed and when the pick up stopped at an intersection at the bottom of the hill, the crane operator was unable to brake.
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The crane -centre - came to rest in a creek

He swerved to avoid hitting his colleague, ploughed across a road and into a dry creek/ravine. His colleague reported that he was hanging out of the cab door just before it crashed, in what appeared to be an attempt at jumping clear, instead he was crushed beneath the crane and died at the scene.
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