Operator dies after being crushed by collapsing tower crane
A tower crane installed on top of an under-construction condominium in Samut Prakan’s Mueang district collapsed and crushed the crane operator on Monday, resulting in his death.
Photo Courtesy of Poh Teck Tung Foundation
Following an 8.30am report of an incident, Samrong Nua police inspector Pol Lt-Colonel Uthit Sudjai rushed to the construction site in the Theparak area.
The severely injured worker, 40-year-old Witaya Pakheunprom, was found under the damaged crane’s broken metal mast on the 30th floor of the building, while the rest of the mast tilted down along the building with its tip stuck in a 26th-floor window space.
Witaya died while being rushed down the building by rescuers to be sent to hospital.
Workers told police that the tower crane in question had experienced a technical problem some days ago, and that the crane-leasing company had informed the constructor that it would be replaced as a result.
However, the contractor reportedly claimed that such a move would take too long and affect the construction schedule, so the crane was repaired on-site instead.
Police are focused on summoning the construction-supervising engineer and the crane company engineer to provide information as part of the investigation into the deadly incident, Uthit said.