CLEARWATER — A crane tipped onto a Clearwater condo building during a major roofing project. It happened around 9:30 a.m. at the Crystal Bay Condominiums on Feather Sound Drive off Ulmerton Road.
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“The crane exceeded its ability to lift
and tipped over,” said Adam Bild, attorney for the condo’s
association.
Bild said crews were loading material onto the roof at the
time. Beyel Bros. Crane and Rigging is the contractor
working on the project.
“Crane operators are licensed. They have training. It’s
pretty significant in nature,” Bild said. “This is a crane
company that’s been around for significant amount of time.”
St. Pete Fire Rescue said the crane operator was able to get
out safely. Engineers devised a plan to upright the crane
safely and brought in two additional cranes.
“There is damage to the building,” he said. “We put all the
residents in the building on notice.”
Bild said there are 170 units in this building with more
than 300 impacted residents who were evacuated as a
precaution.
“I think we’re all little shook up by this,” said Jenkins.
Bild said preliminary inspections show no signs of cracking,
however a more thorough inspection will need to take place
following the removal of the crane.