Crane collapses, kills motorcycle rider

The crane that collapsed on Feb. 27, 2024, blocked more than half of a bridge’s width in Ba Ria - Vung Tau. Photo by VnExpress/Truong Ha

Approximately 15 meters high, the crane was being used for construction project on Cua Lap 2 Bridge on the Co May River. It malfunctioned at around 4:40 p.m. and fell on a 20-year-old man who was riding his motorcycle over the bridge towards Vung Tau City.

The man was struck by the falling crane and died instantly. His identity has not yet been confirmed.

The crane, which collapsed on Feb. 27, 2024, had been operating from a barge on the Co May River in Ba Ria-Vung Tau. Photo by VnExpress/Truong Ha

After a cable snapped, the top part of the crane fell, crushing the bridge’s railing and landing on the crossing’s road surface.

"The wind was very strong when I arrived at the scene," said a local security guard who was helping to ensure order in the area. "It was unclear whether the crane was in operation at the time of the incident."

A joint force of emergency services and locals managed to lift the crane and retrieve the victim's body by around 6:10 p.m. The incident caused traffic congestion in the area. Police re-directed traffic from a distance and began investigating the incident's cause.

Locals join forces to lift the collapsed crane and remove the victim’s body on Feb. 27, 2024. Photo by VnExpress/Truong Ha

The Cua Lap 2 Bridge is part of Ba Ria – Vung Tau’s 994 coastal road expansion project. The structure is being built parallel to the existing Cua Lap Bridge which connects the province’s rural Long Dien District and Vung Tau City.