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City Blew Off Crane Warning

Construction site had received 32 complaints, numerous violations

By Polly Davis Doig, Newser Staff

Posted Mar 16, 2008 10:29 AM CDT

(Newser) – Twelve days before the crane accident that killed four, the city of New York largely ignored a warning that the crane wasn't braced properly, reports the New York Daily News. An inspector responding to a retired contractor's complaint that the upper 100 feet of the crane was unsecured determined on March 4 that "Crane is erected according to approved" code.

But the complaint was only one of 32 the city received about the site since December, and the Building Department had issued a violation about every five days since Jan. 17. "We've closed restaurants that have fruit flies, but we don't close construction sites that have major safety violations," complained the Manhattan borough president.

[Images (7)]

[Videos (5)]

A collapsed crane leans against an apartment building on 51st Street Saturday, March 15, 2008 in New York. A crane mounted to the side of a skyscraper toppled, killing at least four and injuring 10. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow)

Rescue workers work at the scene of a crushed building on 50th Street near Second Avenue Saturday, March 15, 2008 in New York. A giant crane toppled over at a construction site and smashed into a block... (AP Photo/Toykin Chin)

Police and firemen continue to work at the scene where a section of collapsed crane lies on top of a crushed building on 50th Street near Second Avenue Saturday, March 15, 2008 in New York. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow)

A section of collapsed crane protrudes from a crushed building on 50th Street near Saturday, March 15, 2008 in New York. The crane toppled and smashed into residential buildings. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow)

Rescue workers work at the scene of a crushed building on 50th Street Saturday, March 15, 2008 in New York. A crane toppled over and smashed into residential buildings, killing four people. (AP Photo/Toykin Chin)

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Deadly New York City Crane Collapse - 4 Dead as Crane Falls (go33tv (YouTube))

CNN US : New York : Bloomberg on crane collapse (squishydemon (YouTube))

CNN US : New York : Crane collapse (squishydemon (YouTube))

NYC Crane Collapse 3/15/08 (crakrjack (YouTube))

Gru crolla su palazzi a New York (triskel75 (YouTube))

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City Blew Off Crane Warning