Crane Topples, Damages Grounds

A 70,000-pound crane repairing the Hoffman Laboratory's roof fell over yesterday afternoon, gouging a three-foot-deep hole in the ground but injuring no one.

The crane did not have its four stabilizing outriggers extended, which would have prevented it from toppling, according to Harvard police.

The owner of W. S. Aiken, the construction company that owns the crane, said the outriggers were not being used because he did not want to damage the trees nearby.

"Someone could have been killed because of the damn trees," he said.

There was no police detail at the site when the accident occurred.

A Harvard police officer, who requested anonymity, said a detail should have been present.

"There should always be someone here when they are doing this work," he said.

The crane fell as it was turning. If the crane had been turning in the other direction, it would have hit the Hoffman Labs building as it fell.

There was an altercation between one police officer and a construction worker when the officer said he might have to evacuate part of the Hoffman labs. The owner of the Everett-based construction company declined to give his name, saying only "my stomach is in knots."

He said he only owns one crane.

American Cylinder, a company that can right fallen cranes, was expected to lift the toppled construction machine last night.