October 6, 1999: Crane boom collapsed at North Bridge construction site in downtown Chicago. The boom of a Model 4100 Manitowoc crane collapsed this morning, injuring at least two workers. One of the injured men, the crane operator of another crane that was working nearby, was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital where he was treated for a shoulder injury and released. A second worker was injured when he jumped from the crane, spraining his wrist. He was treated at the work site. The accident occurred about 7:15 a.m. at the Grand Bay Hotel construction site, part of the North Bridge project that consists of three hotels and 500,000 square feet of retail space. The operator had just started the crane when suddenly the boom came back over the cab of the crane and collapsed to the ground. The boom fell into the intersection of Rush and Illinois streets, blocking one lane of traffic on Illinois and destroying a traffic signal. The force of the fall drove the crane booom several inches into the roadway. Exclusive Photo #1 Exclusive Photo #2 Exclusive Photo #3