Company Claims Crane was Placed in “Appropriate Out-of-Service Mode” before Dallas Collapse

DALLAS (WBAP/KLIF) – The company that owns the crane that crashed into a Deep Ellum area apartment complex earlier this month, killing a 29-year-old woman, claims to have followed protocol before high winds blew through North Texas.

Bigge Crane Company said Thursday that it believes extreme local wind conditions caused the crane to collapse. Winds that day in Dallas were reported close to 75 mph.

“When the storm and extremely high winds occurred, the tower crane was not in use and was not being manned at the time of the accident,” the company said in a statement. “It is our understanding that the operator has said that when he completed his work the prior day, the crane was placed in the appropriate out-of-service mode per the crane manufacturers requirements.”

OSHA continues to investigate if the company violated any regulations.

The company stated that “what matters most now is that OSHA and independent investigations continue and lead to their official findings.”

The crane remains lodged into the Elan City Lights Apartments. It’s unclear when it will be removed.