License suspended for operator of the collapsed Long Island City crane

The city has suspended the license of the operator of the Long Island City crane that collapsed on Wednesday, the New York Times reported. In a statement, the city said that the operator, identified as Paul Geer, was trying to lift a 23,900-pound load — over twice the crane’s capacity. The statement says that Geer “was unable to see the materials being lifted and was attempting to lift those materials outside of the approved landing zone.”

The collapse trapped three construction workers and injured a total of seven people. As previously reported, the crane collapsed at a TF Cornerstone luxury rental site and the crane itself was owned by New York Crane. James Lomma, the founder of New York Crane, was recently acquitted of charges against him, following the 2008 crane collapse at the Azure condominium, which killed two.

New York Crane did not respond to the Times’ request for comment. [NYT] —Zachary Kussin