Officials from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and other entities are continuing their investigation of a crane collapse at a hospital construction site on Merritt Island that killed two people working on the project.
The accident occurred on the afternoon of June 4 on the site where Health First is building a new Cape Canaveral Hospital, off State Road 520.
In a statement, Health First called it “a serious weather-related incident.”
High winds and rain had passed over Merritt Island on the afternoon of the accident.
Will Ulrich, warning coordination meteorologist for the National Weather Service, said the crane collapse likely occurred when the leading edge of a storm moved offshore in the area, leading to peak wind gusts of 45 to 55 mph, based on surround observations.
While much of the showers and storms in the area were associated with the disturbed weather just offshore that the National Hurricane Center was watching, the office couldn’t say if the storms were the direct cause of the wind gusts, according to meteorologist Timothy Sedlock.
Earlier in the day, a special weather statement from NWS Melbourne posted at 2:22 p.m. warned of 50 mph winds until 3 p.m. in the Merritt Island area.
Construction firm: 2 killed were trade contract workers
In a statement, Gilbane Building, which is providing construction-management services on the Cape Canaveral Hospital project, said: “Two trade contract workers — one employed by Baker Concrete and the other by another trade contractor — were fatally injured as a result of an incident involving a crane. We share our deepest condolences with the families, loved ones and co-workers.”
Details on the chain of events surrounding the accident have not yet been released.
The fallen crane crushed a work truck, and there was visible damage to the site’s roof.
Gilbane said the construction site “is secure, and work is currently suspended.”
A study by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics on crane accidents found that, from 2011 through 2017, the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries reported 297 total crane-related deaths nationwide, an average of 42 a year.
‘Deepest sympathies’ from Health First
In a statement, Health First said: “We extend our deepest sympathies to the families, loved ones and all those affected.”
Lance Skelly, Health First’s system director for public and media relations, said there is an active investigation going on.
“We are monitoring the situation closely with local authorities and Gilbane, the construction-management company on the project, as they continue their investigation,” Skelly said.
“We understand this is deeply concerning, and we will share additional information as it becomes available.”
In a separate statement, Gilbane said: “We are supporting our trade contractors, and working with them and the authorities on an active investigation to understand the circumstances surrounding the incident.”
More on the hospital project
Construction began in March 2024 on the new $410 million Cape Canaveral Hospital and Medical Office Building on Merritt Island.
It is expected to be completed by the end of 2026, and open to the public in early 2027. The new 268,000-square-foot hospital will replace the existing Cape Canaveral Hospital in Cocoa Beach
The new Cape Canaveral Hospital complex will include 120 private inpatient hospital beds; 25 emergency department treatment rooms; six operating rooms; and a three-story, 92,000-square-foot Medical Office Building.
With the investigation continuing, it is undetermined when the construction project will resume.
Skelly said no Health First staff members were on the site at the time of the accident.
Hana Khalyleh contributed to this story.
Dave Berman is business editor at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Berman at dberman@floridatoday.com, on X at @bydaveberman and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/dave.berman.54
Tyler Vazquez is the Brevard County Watchdog Reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Vazquez at 321-480-0854 or tvazquez@floridatoday.com. Twitter: @tyler_vazquez.
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Two construction workers die after ‘serious weather-related incident’ involving crane
Reporting by Dave Berman and Tyler Vazquez, Florida Today / Florida Today
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
