Harvard University Mathematician Killed By Falling Construction Crane In New York City

David Wichs, right, with wife Rebecca

[From article]
The 38-year-old Upper West Sider killed Friday when a massive crane fell on him was a bright, Harvard-trained math whiz, a family member said.
David Wichs’ sister-in-law, Lisa Guttman, described her loved one as “the most brilliant person ever,” adding that he was born in Prague, Czechoslovakia, and immigrated to the United States as a teenager.
He seized every chance he had to get ahead and graduated from Harvard University, where he majored in mathematics.
“He really created a life for himself,” Guttman said through tears. “He literally took every opportunity he could find.”
Wichs died instantly when the 565-foot crane came crashing down on him as he stood on Worth Street. He was working at the New York-based financial trading firm Tower Research Capital.
Wichs lived with his wife, Rebecca Guttman, on West 81st Street. They wed in 2013, according to records, and Guttman is currently an associate at the international law firm Proskauer Rose LLP.
She graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 2004 before attending the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, her LinkedIn page shows.
[. . .]
While at Harvard, Wichs co-chaired a men’s group that was part of the campus Hillel, a Jewish organization for college students.
“The Men’s Group is informal . . . a bunch of friends that do things together,” he said during an interview with The Harvard Crimson in 1998.
“It’s good for the kids who participate . . . people don’t have to feel awkward about their upbringing.”
Wichs and his wife were members of Kehilath Jeshurun, a modern Orthodox congregation on the Upper East Side, according to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency.
He was a donor to several charities, including Avodah, Mazon and Teach for America, the agency ­reported.

http://nypost.com/2016/02/05/math-whiz-killed-in-crane-collapse-was-an-absolute-angel/

Math whiz killed in crane collapse was ‘an absolute angel’
By Kevin Fasick, Shawn Cohen and Danika Fears
New York Post

February 5, 2016 | 11:28pm

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http://nypost.com/2016/02/06/operator-kept-fatal-crane-collapse-from-being-much-worse/

Operator kept fatal crane collapse from being much worse
By Jamie Schram and Laura Italiano
February 6, 2016 | 5:22pm
New York Post


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http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3433589/Two-injured-construction-crane-collapses-lower-Manhattan.html

Cops question driver 'with a history of DUIs' over massive New York City crane collapse that killed married Harvard-grad trader, 38, on his way to work
Crane at 57 Worth Street, near Church and West Broadway in Tribeca, lower Manhattan collapsed at 8:24am
Prague-born, Harvard graduate David Wichs, 38, died; at least three more were injured, including one firefighter
Last night friends paid tribute to Wichs, including the family rabbi who said: 'He was an angel, an absolute angel'
The crane had a permit to move generators and air conditioning units at 60 Hudson Street and was parked on Worth
Authorities were lowering the crane to secure it; cell phone footage captures moment the crane breaks and crashes
Gas and water leaks have been reported in the area and ConEdison is on the scene monitoring every 15 minutes
See more news and coverage from New York at www.dailymail.co.uk/nyc
By JESSICA CHIA FOR DAILYMAIL.COM
PUBLISHED: 09:09 EST, 5 February 2016 | UPDATED: 00:51 EST, 6 February 2016

Construction Crane Falls in Manhattan, One Dead Several Injured

[From article]
A pedestrian was killed and three other people injured — two seriously — when a massive construction crane collapsed in Lower Manhattan on Friday morning while it was being lowered as a precaution due to the wind, officials said.
David Wichs, 38, of West 81st Street had been standing on the street when the crane crashed down on him, killing him, authorities said.
A 45-year-old woman from New Jersey suffered a head laceration and leg injury and was taken to New York-Presbyterian/Lower Manhattan Hospital.
A 73-year-old man suffered a head injury when the crane fell on his car. He was in stable condition at Bellevue Hospital.
Winds were about 20 mph Friday morning — nearing the crane’s maximum allowable wind speed of 25 mph — so a decision was made to secure the giant machine, said Mayor Bill de Blasio.
The crane — which is owned by Bay Crane and operated by Galasso Trucking and Rigging Inc. — was brought to the site on Jan. 30 to replace air conditioners and generators on the roof of 60 Hudson St., which used to house Western Union, officials said.
With city building inspectors on hand, the boom of the crawler crane was extended to its maximum length of 565 feet at 6:20 a.m. Thursday to reach farther over the roof, he said.
Capotosto, Bob Ganley and Vincent Vallelong found another injured man in the street who appeared to be unconscious and a woman who was leaning against a building, blood trickling from her forehead.
“We rendered some aid to her. It was a little bit of chaos in the street,” Capotosto said. “(The crane) came down and it crushed every car on the block. Thankfully there was only one person inside one of the cars.”
Three PBA cars were destroyed.
“As bad as it is, we lost a life out there, but it could have been worse. Because of the weather, there were not a lot of people out there,” he added.

http://nypost.com/2016/02/05/crane-collapse-in-manhattan/

Video captures fatal crane collapse in Manhattan
By Natalie Musumeci, Shawn Cohen, Kevin Fasick and Yaron Steinbuch
New York Post
February 5, 2016 | 8:51am | Updated

http://nyp.st/1R9vGyO

Fallling Crane

http://nyp.st/1R9vGyO

On Ground Showing Damaged Cars

Boston Construction Worker Fell From Crane Five Stories High

[From article]

A construction worker was injured early Wednesday in a fall from a cherry picker at a site in Boston.
The worker fell six stories while working at a building at 1047 Commonwealth Avenue.

http://www.wcvb.com/news/worker-falls-5-stories-from-cherry-picker/36753304

Worker falls 5 stories from cherry picker
Boston accident under investigation
UPDATED 8:32 AM EST Dec 02, 2015

Ten Injured In Midtown Manhattan Construction Crane Collapse

Refrigeration Unit Dropped By Crane on  Madison Avenue Near 38th Street

[From article]
At least 10 people were injured when a construction crane dropped a massive heating and air-conditioning unit nearly 30 stories at a Midtown building Sunday, officials and witnesses said.
Workers were attempting to lift the unit into one of the Madison Avenue office building’s control rooms when the rigging strap holding it broke, sending it plummeting to the street around 10:45 a.m., said a source familiar with the investigation.
The metal rectangular unit struck the side of the building multiple times as it fell, sending glass and building debris raining down. The unit landed in the middle of Madison Avenue between 38th and 39th streets.



http://nypost.com/2015/05/31/construction-crane-crashes-into-midtown-building/

At least 10 hurt after crane smashes into Midtown building
By Tom Wilson, Dana Sauchelli and Daniel Prendergast
New York Post
May 31, 2015 | 11:16am

Construction Worker Killed In Manhattan

40-year-old Trevor Loftus was killed at a construction site on 44th Street and 2nd Avenue.Photo by: Facebook

[From article]

The owner of a construction company died after being pinned by a collapsed crane in Midtown, authorities said.
Trevor Loftus, 40, was trapped against the flatbed of a truck when the arm of a boom crane suddenly collapsed on a construction site at 219 East 44 Street at 11:44 a.m.
Loftus, the owner of Kenry Contracting Inc., noticed the machine’s hydraulic system was leaking from a hose in the bed of the truck, police said. As he was attempting to fix it, the hose burst, causing the crane to collapse on top of him, according to police.

http://nypost.com/2015/04/24/construction-worker-dies-after-crane-collapses-on-him/

Construction worker dies after crane collapses
By Natasha Velez, Kevin Fasick, Amanda Lozada and Jamie Schram
New York Post
April 24, 2015 | 12:41pm

NYC Construction Crane Breaks 57th Street

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/manhattan/police_evacuate_area_around_h2T6UMV7he5mZlXwDi2ZQI

Police evacuate area around dangling crane
By BILL SANDERSON, REUVEN FENTON and BETH DeFALCO
New York Post
Last Updated: 7:27 PM, October 29, 2012
Posted: 5:33 PM, October 29, 2012