NEW YORK (WPIX)—
The man prosecutors say is responsible for a deadly crane accident in New York City two years ago will soon be going to trial.Rigging contractor William Rapetti is facing manslaughter charges for the accident in March 2008 in which a 200-foot tall rig came crashing down on a city block, killing eight people, including the crane operator, and injuring two dozen more.
Several buildings in the area were damaged in the collapse and one four-story building was completely demolished.
Prosecutors said Rapetti failed to follow safety practices necessary to secure the 150-ton crane that was being used to build a condominium tower on East 51st in Manhattan. According to prosecutors, city building officials and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Rapetti used four straps to hold up a 6-ton steel collar connecting the crane to the building when the crane's manufacture called for eight. In addition, they said Rapetti did not take precautions to keep the straps from fraying and used a strap that was already badly worn.
Investigators said the accident happened when the straps snapped and the collar, located 18 stories up, fell onto other structures further down on the crane, causing a domino effect and breaking the crane's anchor to the building.
Rapetti's lawyer, Arthur Aidala, is challenging those findings, saying his client followed common industry procedures. "It's our position that nobody knows why the crane went down", Aidala said.
In fact, the defense said the crane operator, Wayne Bleidner, may have had a heart attack which led to the accident.
A lawyer for the crane operator's widow, Denise Bleidner, called the assertion a "desperate and offensive tactic." Howard S. Hershehorn said, "instead of Rapetti stepping up and taking responsibility for what multiple agencies and multiple independent parties have determined to be his fault, he now, in the most cowardly way, is going to blame the victim."
Jury selection in Rapetti's manslaughter trial is scheduled to begin June 21.
