Investigation of crane collapse begins

• By MONICA ROHR
• Associated Press writer
• Published: Jul 20, 2008 - UPDATED: 10:40 a.m.

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HOUSTON (AP) -- Federal investigators on Saturday began trying to figure out why one of the world's largest mobile cranes toppled over, killing four contract workers and injuring seven others.

Officials said it could take time before knowing what caused the 30-story-tall crane to collapse Friday at a LyondellBasell refinery in Houston, the latest of several deadly crane accidents around the country.

The massive crane, capable of lifting 1 million pounds, was owned by Deep South Crane & Rigging, which Saturday released the names of its four workers killed in the accident.

"We wish we had all of the answers on what happened and why - but we do not - and speculating on cause would not resolve anything," the company said in a statement. "But we are actively working to find those answers."

The four men killed were: Marion "Scooter" Hubert Odom III, 41, of Highlands; John D. Henry, 33, of Dayton; Daniel "DJ" Lee Johnson, 30, of Dayton; and Rocky Dale Strength, 30, of Santa Fe, Texas.

At the LyondellBasell refinery, company officials said they were trying to restore normalcy. The refinery brought in grief counselors and will hold a series of safety meetings to address concerns about the accident starting Monday, said David Roznowski, a company spokesman.

"This is a real blow to our refinery team, and it will take some time to recover from this," said Roznowski.

Investigators with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration began their formal accident investigation early Saturday, Roznowski said.

Cameras are mounted around the plant and refinery officials said the company hopes the video will help determine what happened.

Two of the injured workers remained in Houston hospitals Saturday. Their injuries were not life-threatening, Roznowski said.

Two other injured workers were taken to a hospital and have since been released. Three others were treated and released at the scene, fire officials said.

The first lawsuit stemming from the collapse was filed in Harris County state district court, the Houston Chronicle reported.

The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Grant Pasek, a worker injured after jumping from an elevated bucket when he saw the crane start to fall. It seeks a temporary restraining order to preserve the scene and evidence relating to the accident, attorney Jim S. Hart told the newspaper.