Heartfelt testimony heard at fatal crane trial

In testimony today in the manslaughter trial of James Lomma, owner of the crane that collapsed in May 2008 during construction of the Azure, deceased construction worker Donald Leo Jr.’s father took the stand, the New York Daily News reported.

Leo held back tears as he recounted his trip uptown to see his son after he was told about the accident, at 333 East 91st Street, at First Avenue, which killed two people.

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“When they stopped wheeling him and didn’t put him in [an ambulance], that is when I knew,” Leo said. He “cradled his dead son’s body” for 10 minutes after his body was freed from the crane cabin, according to prosecutors.

The trial commenced yesterday against Lomma, and is expected to continue Friday. [NYDN]