NYC Inspector Charged in Crane Collapse

A New York City worker has been charged with lying to authorities about inspecting the crane that collapsed Saturday, killing seven, the Times reports. Edward Marquette is also accused of falsifying business records, after claiming to have inspected the crane March 4. The Department of Buildings chief again stressed that it’s “highly unlikely” appropriate inspections would have forestalled the accident.

The crane was actually inspected several times, including the day before its malfunction; Marquette’s non-response to a complaint about the crane wasn’t even “remotely associated” with the incident, the city's buildings chief said. Nevertheless, six months of the inspector’s work will be repeated. Marquette was arraigned on two felony counts, carrying a total potential punishment of eight years in prison. (More New York City stories.)