Breaking Crane Accident News

A new ship-to-shore crane collapsed at the Port of Fort-de-France in Martinique on September 18. Two people suffered minor injuries and ten were treated for shock. One man was trapped on the 60-metre-high crane for over five hours before being rescued by fire services. The crane was part of a newly delivered fleet and had just completed a three-month installation and testing programme. An investigation into the cause is ongoing.

An 80-ft Genie Z-80 boom lift fell from a delivery truck while being unloaded on Antwerp Straat in Boom, Belgium, seriously injuring a 30-year-old man. The boom lift, from the Rob Verhuur rental fleet, caused the street to be closed for several hours. The injured man sustained serious head injuries and remains in critical condition. Local authorities and the Occupational Wellbeing Inspectorate are investigating.

A worker installing overhead fibre communication cables fell three to four metres in Woodbury, Long Island, New York, after basket retainer bolts on a bucket platform reportedly came loose or failed. The Frontier Communications employee was taken to hospital with injuries that are not considered life-changing. Authorities are expected to investigate the platform fastening system and inspection procedures.

A luffing jib tower crane experienced a wind-related incident at a data centre construction site in Derrimut, west Melbourne, when the jib was blown over the rear of the crane during winds reported at 40–50 km/h. The crane involved was a Favelle Favco M-1280D operated by General Cranes. The jib landed on parked cars, but no injuries were reported. The operator was rescued after about an hour, and WorkSafe is investigating.

An unauthorized individual accessed a construction crane near Vinton, Louisiana, before dawn on August 16, obstructing westbound lanes of I-10 and causing multiple crashes and injuries. Louisiana State Police reported the crane was not in active use at the time. The incident highlights how unsecured heavy equipment and limited off-hours controls can create serious public safety risks near live traffic corridors.

A mobile crane collapsed onto a house in Merritt Island, Florida, on August 13 while installing telephone poles. The four-axle Liebherr all-terrain crane tipped after a water main was ruptured beneath a rear outrigger, causing ground failure. No injuries were reported. OSHA and AT&T have inspected the scene and are investigating the incident.

A worker was killed after a tower crane overturned at a construction site in Tavira, Portugal, near the Tavira Plaza commercial centre. The crane tower collapsed onto site office containers, trapping the worker beneath rubble. Another worker suffered minor injuries. The crane was installed on a counterweighted cruciform base. Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the collapse.

A lattice crawler crane boom struck the Talmadge Memorial Bridge in Savannah while being transported on a barge along the Savannah River. The boom went over the rear of the crane and fell onto the deck and into the water. No injuries were reported. Georgia DOT temporarily closed the bridge for inspection before reopening it several hours later. Recovery operations removed the fallen boom later the same day.

A 750-tonne Manitowoc M18000 Max-ER crawler crane overturned into the sea while lifting a large cable reel at an offshore logistics base in Porto do Açu, Brazil. The incident reportedly occurred after ground failure beneath one of the crane’s tracks. No injuries were reported. Authorities are expected to investigate ground conditions and site preparation.

A five-axle mobile crane overturned onto a parked van in Kiryas Joel, New York, on Tuesday while in a setup or breakdown phase. The crane had no counterweight installed and outriggers were partially extended when it tipped. The operator and two others sustained minor injuries. No one was inside the van. Emergency crews managed a complex 12-hour recovery. Authorities are investigating the cause.

A mobile self-erecting tower crane caught fire on the M11 motorway in Essex on Wednesday, causing the road to close for several hours. The Spierings crane, operated by City Lifting, had pulled onto the hard shoulder when the fire broke out. No injuries were reported. Authorities are expected to investigate the cause of the fire following recovery of the crane.

A man was injured in Chicago after a boom lift dropped into a basement when the sidewalk beneath it collapsed. The Genie lift, from the Herc Rentals fleet, fell one floor after a concrete paving panel gave way. The 49-year-old operator suffered a head injury and was reported to be in fair condition at hospital. Authorities are expected to investigate pavement and ground conditions.

A worker was killed and another seriously injured after the jib of a self-erecting tower crane came down onto a building during a lift at a construction site in Saskatoon, Canada. The incident occurred on July 5 at a 162-unit apartment development. Early indications suggest a possible tower extension wire rope failure, though this has not been confirmed. Authorities are investigating.

A 32-year-old man was killed in Harelbeke, Belgium, after being thrown from a boom lift during a lifting operation at an industrial construction site. The boom lift was working in conjunction with an all-terrain crane when a web sling is believed to have failed, causing sudden load transfer toward the platform. Authorities have launched a formal investigation, though the cause has not yet been confirmed.

Around 200 residents were evacuated in Carlingford, Sydney, after a low-top tower crane began leaning dangerously when two foundation anchor bolts failed. The incident followed high winds on Wednesday and caused traffic disruption. Fire and Rescue NSW secured the area while work was halted. Crane manufacturer Jaso confirmed the crane itself was not defective. Investigations are ongoing.

A tunnel in North Wales was closed for three days after an all-terrain crane caught fire while travelling through the Conwy Tunnel on the A55. The incident occurred Thursday afternoon in the westbound lane and involved a two-axle Terex crane owned by Kendley Steel. No injuries were reported, but a 35-mile diversion was required while recovery and repairs were completed.

A new ship-to-shore crane collapsed at Tuas Port in Singapore on June 15 while being delivered to a non-operational berth. The incident involved a Sany STS crane and appears to show the front legs giving way as the crane came ashore. No injuries or fatalities were reported. PSA and the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore are jointly investigating the incident.

Two workers were killed after the boom and jib of a lattice crawler crane collapsed onto a delivery truck at the Cape Canaveral Hospital construction site on Merritt Island, Florida. The Manitowoc crane, from the Maxim Crane fleet, struck the building and truck during high winds reported at around 50 mph. The incident has been described as weather-related. Work has been suspended and authorities are investigating.

A worker died following a crane maintenance accident on May 27, 2025, at Samsung Heavy Industries’ Geoje shipyard in South Korea. The incident occurred during repair work on a monorail crane and involved a secondary subcontractor. Authorities are investigating whether the case qualifies as a “serious disaster” under South Korea’s Serious Accident Punishment Act, highlighting contractor oversight and crane maintenance safety risks.

Three workers were killed after a man basket detached from a tower crane and fell 70 metres at the Neckertal Bridge construction site near Horb am Neckar, Germany. The incident occurred on Tuesday and involved a suspected wire rope failure. Authorities confirmed the basket was not overloaded and that safety requirements were reportedly followed. Police and prosecutors have launched a full investigation with support from a technical expert.