A dramatic accident in River Vale, Bergen County, left two homes damaged after a commercial crane overturned while a private contractor was working at a residential property Thursday morning.
Police were called to Sunny Hill Terrace shortly before 10 a.m. on September 17, after the ground beneath the crane gave way and the heavy equipment tipped over. The crane struck two neighboring homes, causing significant structural damage, but remarkably no injuries were reported.
According to officials, the crane was being used by a private contractor during work at one of the homes. ABC7 reported that the crew was stabilizing the truck when one of its mechanical support arms hit a soft area underground, believed to be connected to a hidden concrete seepage tank used for drainage. The ground then gave way beneath the equipment.
The crane came down across the properties, crashing through part of one home and extending onto a neighboring house. Video and photos from the scene showed the crane stretched across rooftops while the truck attached to it had overturned onto its side.
One homeowner told ABC7 she was inside her kitchen when the crane came down. The impact tore through the garage area, and emergency dispatchers instructed her to leave the house immediately. Despite the extent of the damage, she was not hurt.
Neighbors described watching the accident unfold in what appeared to be slow motion as the truck began tipping and the crane came down across the homes.
The River Vale Fire Department, local building officials and PSE&G responded to secure the area. Firefighters also rescued a cat from one of the homes.
The homeowner whose property sustained major damage said the contractor quickly accepted responsibility and began contacting insurance representatives, electricians and contractors to address the damage.
The incident highlights how underground conditions can create unexpected hazards for heavy equipment, particularly when cranes and other large vehicles rely on stabilizers that place enormous pressure on relatively small areas of ground.
River Vale police said the immediate cause of the overturn appeared to be the ground giving way beneath the crane while the contractor was working at the residence. No additional injuries or emergency conditions were reported.
Sources: News 12 New Jersey; ABC7 New York; River Vale Police Department; River Vale Fire Department
By NJ RADAR Team