Construction Crane Collapses into Bay in Margate

No one was hurt and there was no property damage, but an operator was in the 22-ton crane when it fell into about 6 feet of water, according to Chief John Kelley. The man escaped safely from the crane before rescue workers arrived, Kelley added.....Continue Reading with more photos

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By 5 p.m., the crane had been lifted out of the water by a larger crane and placed back onto the barge.

A Coast Guard environmental investigator estimated that a total of 20 to 40 gallons of various oil products spilled into the bay when the crane collapsed. A State environmental investigator at the scene said they expected the oil to be cleaned up by tonight.

The crane had been doing bulkhead work along Bayshore Drive, a street of mostly expensive homes near the Margate Bridge. About 25 emergency responders from Margate’s fire department, the U.S. Coast Guard, the State Police marine unit and Atlantic County’s hazardous-materials team were on the scene shortly after noon trying to deal with the spill, Kelley said.