Crane Accident Stops Construction Work on 97th Street

A crane slammed into a sidewalk shed at a Columbus Square construction site on 97th Street and Columbus on Thursday afternoon, prompting the Building Department to shut the site down. No one was injured.

The Department of Buildings told Borough President Scott Stringer and Councilwoman Melissa Mark-Viverito that the crane was “being demobilized at the end of the day” when it hit the shed, the politicians said in a joint statement.

“We will request that the DOB issue an open, transparent report to the public regarding today’s accident, which should outline the cause of the accident and the steps they will take to prevent a similar incident’s reoccurrence,” they wrote, noting that there has been a history of construction accidents in this area.

One resident told Fox NY that he had called the Buildings Department because the crane appeared to be unsafe, but nothing was done. Check out the Fox NY video below. (Photo via The Real Deal)