Search Goes On For Three Missing After Manhattan Crane Collapse
Representatives from several city agencies, including the Department of Buildings and the FDNY, continued the search Sunday for three people missing in the aftermath of Saturday's crane collapse on Manhattan's East Side.
Two construction workers and one local resident were still missing as of late Sunday night.
Construction workers Brad Cohen, Aaron Stephens, Anthony Mazza, and Wayne Bleinder were killed in the accident and two dozen other people were injured, three critically.
DOB Commissioner Patricia Lancaster said Sunday afternoon that the work on the two centers of operations, on East 50th and East 51st Streets, would allow emergency responders and search and rescue crews to search for any survivors trapped in the debris.
Crews worked through the day Sunday with search dogs, thermal-imaging cameras, and listening devices.
Buildings inspectors and Office of Emergency Management crews began removing the crane's 19-story boom apparatus, which is leaning against 300 East 51st Street.
The other project consists of workers securing the buildings that were damaged on East 50th Street.
Once these buildings are stabilized, water, electricity, and gas will be restored and residents of the 18 vacated buildings will be allowed to return to their homes. However Mayor Michael Bloomberg warned that the restoration will be a time-consuming process.
The Red Cross brought people evacuated from the damaged buildings to a shelter at the High School of Art and Design at 228 East 57th Street, but city officials said those residents would have to be moved before the opening of school on Monday morning. Officials said those who signed up for shelter service would be notified as to the location of the new shelter.
Bloomberg also said several cars had to be towed off the street in order for the clean up and stabilization to proceed, and that area residents who cannot locate their car should call 311 with their license number.
The mayor, addressing reporters on Sunday afternoon, said that officials are not sure if the accident was a result of a mechanical or human failure. But he assured New Yorkers that while tragic, these occurrences are rare and residents should not worry.
"As far as we can tell, all procedures that were called for were being followed but it's much too early to make a definitive decision," Bloomberg said. "We'll look to see whether it was human error or a mechanical error or whether or not our procedures are just not adequate."
The DOB says a preliminary investigation shows the accident occurred while workers were extending the 19-story crane upwards, known as "jumping" the crane.
The agency says a steel collar that tied the crane to a building under construction on East 51st Street fell as it was being installed, damaging a lower collar. Without that lower support, the counter-weights at the top caused the crane to come crashing down across 51st Street just before 2:30 p.m. yesterday.
In response to the accident, Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer is calling on the city to create a new inspection strategy to tighten its oversight of construction projects.
"In every walk of life, in business or in government, when a strategy isn't working, it has to be changed," said Stringer during a press conference Sunday afternoon. "It's clear that the current Buildings Department construction safety oversight protocol is not working, and we can't keep going on like this. Important as new construction is to our city's economy and its future, residents and workers cannot continue to be put in harm's way."
"When there's a tragedy like this, you really have to stop, look at what happened and determine whether or not legislative or budgetary or regulatory action is needed, and we will be doing that work immediately," added City Council Speaker Christine Quinn.
The crane crashed across East 51st Street and Second Avenue, destroying a four-story townhouse on East 50th Street and damaging several other buildings.
One man was rescued from Fubar, a bar within the crushed townhouse, several hours after the collapse. The bar's owner says he had concerns about the crane.
"I said to my father as I was walking with him one day, 'If this thing ever fell it would take out a whole block,'" said John LaGreco, owner of Fubar. "And sure enough, it did."
One woman who was forced out of her apartment when the crane collapsed says the accident did not surprise her.
"That crane was swinging in the wind last Saturday in the terrible storm; it was creaking and moaning," she said. "You could hear the shifting of the metal. I personally have called 311 and the police, and other people in the area have. It's been a very badly operated project from the beginning."
The mayor called the collapse one of the worst construction accidents in the city's history.
Both Bloomberg and incoming Governor David Paterson offered their condolences to the victims' loved ones.
"It is a horrible situation. Very gory, there is blood in the street," said Paterson, who was in the city yesterday. "But we are very, very lucky to have the brave police and firefighters here, their tremendous effort. Our heart goes out to families that will learn they have lost their family member here today."
"It is a sad day and our thoughts go out to the families and to those who were killed and I think all of us pray that those who are injured recover," said Bloomberg.
The crash happened just one day after the crane was inspected by the Buildings Department, which found nothing wrong.
A stop-work order was issued earlier yesterday for an unrelated issue involving preparation for high winds.
The construction site has received 13 violations since work started in 2006, though city officials say that's a normal amount for the project's size. None of the violations were related to the crane's eventual collapse.
In September 2006, part of a crane owned by the company, New York Crane, came crashing down at an East Village construction site, crushing a yellow cab. Five people were hurt in that accident.
Meanwhile, the developer of the condo project where Saturday's collapse took place is calling on the site's construction manager and New York Crane to cooperate fully with the investigation.
"There are no words to describe the level of devastation we feel today as a result of this tragic event," said the developer through a statement. "Our hearts and prayers are with the families of those who died in this horrible accident. We are also praying for a full recovery for the individuals who have been injured today. Our first priority is to support the police and fire rescue operation to ensure that all victims are accounted for and the site is rendered safe as quickly as possible."
The cleanup is expected to take several days.
As of Sunday afternoon, there were still several street closings in effect around the accident site.
East 51st Street is closed between First and Third Avenues. Second Avenue is closed between 48th and 57th Streets.
Only cross-town traffic is allowed from 53rd to 56th Streets at Second Avenue, which means drivers can not turn down Second Avenue from any of those streets.
Third Avenue is also closed between 50th and 52nd Streets, while 49th Street is closed at First Avenue and 48th Street is closed at Third Avenue.
The MTA says riders can expect delays and diversions on the M-50, M-27, and M-15 buses.
Riders are urged to allow for extra travel time.
NY1 On Demand Time Warner Cable Digital subscribers can now watch NY1 Living stories and other NY1 features on channel 1110, with our new NY1 on Demand service.
NY1 En Español For all your New York City news in Spanish, watch NY1 Noticias on Time Warner Digital Cable channels 95 or 801, and Cablevision channel 194 – plus see a news summary page at NY1noticias.com.
Buy NY1 Gear! The NY1 Gear Shop is back and better than ever. Visit our online store to purchase our customized caps, mugs, shirts, and more.
NY1 On Demand
NY1 En Español 
Buy NY1 Gear!