Contractor indicted in fatal Manhattan crane collapse

District Attorney Robert Morgenthau announced the indictment of crane rigger William Rapetti and his firm on criminally negligent homicide charges in the March 15 fatal crane collapse. (Louis Lanzano/ Associated Press)

NEW YORK - The contractor that raised the crane that toppled in midtown Manhattan last year and killed seven people was charged yesterday with manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide for failing to stabilize it, prosecutors said.

William Rapetti, the owner of Rapetti Rigging Services Inc., and his company were indicted in the March 15 collapse, Manhattan District Attorney Robert Morgenthau said.

Rapetti and the company were charged with seven counts each of manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide, and charges including assault, reckless endangerment, and failing to file tax returns.

Six construction workers and a tourist from Florida in town for St. Patrick's Day weekend died when the 19-story tower crane toppled from a luxury apartment tower under construction. The accident destroyed a four-story townhouse and damaged many other buildings.

Morgenthau said yesterday that Rapetti's "reckless and negligent rigging practices" caused the crane to fall while a crew was trying to raise it. He said Rapetti improperly used slings that were supposed to stabilize a steel brace attaching the crane to a building under construction. The 12,000-pound brace snapped and fell, dislodging the crane.

Rapetti's attorney, Arthur Aidala, said in an e-mail that Rapetti, a crane rigger and operator, surrendered yesterday.

"William Rapetti is determined to help clear his name and demonstrate that he and his company operated and supervised the site in a manner beyond reproach," Aidala said.

ASSOCIATED PRESS