Crane collapse in Kiryas Joel under investigation by state and federal authorities
Part of the fallen crane has been removed, and workers are now repairing a sidewalk that was damaged during the incident.
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New details have emerged following a dramatic crane collapse in Kiryas Joel that crushed a parked van and left one person temporarily trapped inside the cab.
The incident happened just before 11 a.m. on July 22 at a construction site within the village. Officials say a large mobile crane overturned during operations, slamming into a vehicle and blocking Bakertown Road.e.
Kiryas Joel Fire Department Chief Yossi Blumenthal says emergency crews found the crane operator trapped in the cab and quickly began rescue operations. The operator was safely extricated and treated at the scene for minor injuries.
State police say two other people suffered minor injuries and were taken to Good Samaritan Hospital.
A full secondary search of the crushed van confirmed no one else was inside at the time of the collapse.
“The operator was very lucky,” said Blumenthal. “Given the size of the crane and the nature of the collapse, this could have ended much differently. I’m proud of how quickly and safely our firefighters responded.”
Blumenthal says crews remained on site for over 12 hours due to the complexity of the recovery. Firefighters faced multiple high-risk conditions, including mechanical instability, a potential for secondary collapse and hazardous material leaks. Hydraulic fluid and diesel fuel ruptured from the crane, creating environmental and fire hazards.
Firefighters established a secure safety perimeter, maintained a charged prevention line and coordinated with crane recovery experts to dismantle and remove the equipment safely.
Bakertown Road was temporarily closed and has since partially reopened as repairs continue on a damaged sidewalk. New York State Police, Department of Labor and Occupational Safety and Health Administration are all investigating the cause of the collapse.
News 12 has reached out to the crane operator, US Crane & Rigging LLC, as well as village officials for further comment.
