NY crane drops load 28 storeys, 10 hurt
A massive air-conditioning unit being lifted by a crane to the top of a Manhattan office building fell 28 storeys and landed in the middle of Madison Avenue, injuring 10 people yesterday.
The injured were two construction workers, pedestrians and people in passing cars, Mayor Bill de Blasio said.
All were struck by debris that caused minor injuries; they were treated at hospitals.
Police and emergency workers who responded to the emergency call to the high-rise building a short walk from Grand Central Terminal on Manhattan’s East Side found that the crane’s payload had broken free as it was heading to the top of the 28-storey building. It plummeted to the street, shattering parts of the building facade composed of widening, stepped edges on the lower floors.
De Blasio, speaking to reporters a block from the accident site, said it was ‘‘obviously, a very serious incident.’’
‘‘Thank God this incident occurred at an hour of the day on a weekend when there were not too many people around,’’ he said.
Buildings Department Commissioner Rick Chandler said it was typical for work to be done on weekends when equipment such as a crane was being used. He said all the needed permits for the work involving the crane were in order and there had been no official complaints about the crane.
‘‘We think this device, in this preliminary stage, is in good state and we’ll follow up with that,’’ Chandler said.
The office building on Madison at East 39th Street houses various companies and Zuma, a trendy Japanese restaurant at the street level. Authorities said an investigation was under way. Streets were closed in the surrounding area.