Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Hot on Facebook
Guy Buys $123 Safe on eBay, Finds $26,000 Inside Seller tries to get half the cash back, fails »

NYC Inspector Charged in Crane Collapse

But officials insist inspections wouldn't have made a difference

By Jonas Oransky,  Newser Staff

Posted Mar 20, 2008 4:29 PM CDT
Email

(Newser) – A New York City worker has been charged with lying to authorities about inspecting the crane that collapsed Saturday, killing seven, the Times reports. Edward Marquette is also accused of falsifying business records, after claiming to have inspected the crane March 4. The Department of Buildings chief again stressed that it’s “highly unlikely” appropriate inspections would have forestalled the accident.

The crane was actually inspected several times, including the day before its malfunction; Marquette’s non-response to a complaint about the crane wasn’t even “remotely associated” with the incident, the city's buildings chief said. Nevertheless, six months of the inspector’s work will be repeated. Marquette was arraigned on two felony counts, carrying a total potential punishment of eight years in prison.

Members of various emergency services units look for additional bodies as they remove debris from the site of the crane collapse.
Members of various emergency services units look for additional bodies as they remove debris from the site of the crane collapse.   (AP Photo/David Karp)
Emergency services workers remove the last of seven bodies from the rubble at the site of a crane collapse in the Manhattan borough of New York Monday, March 17, 2008.
Emergency services workers remove the last of seven bodies from the rubble at the site of a crane collapse in the Manhattan borough of New York Monday, March 17, 2008.   (AP Photo/David Karp)
Workmen and firefighters gather near part of a collapsed crane on the East Side of Manhattan in New York on Tuesday, March 18, 2008.
Workmen and firefighters gather near part of a collapsed crane on the East Side of Manhattan in New York on Tuesday, March 18, 2008.   (AP Photo/Peter Morgan)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
A snapshot of the day's best news stories.
 
COMMENTS
Be the first to comment on this story.

The complaint, including the false claim of inspection
New York City Department of Buildings

A smaller-scale New York buildings disaster
Gowanus Lounge

US

 
New York City • accident • construction crane • felonies • building inspections

More Newser Stories

NYC Crane Inspector Booked for Corruption

Tour Bus Death Toll Hits 15

Bus Crash Victims: Driver Swerved

Death Toll in Tour Bus Crash Climbs to 14

NYC Van Crash Kills 2 Kids
NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   Betty Confidential   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Fark   |   Timelines   |   The Frisky   |   Geek Sugar   |   NewsOne