Falcon Tower Crane Services has been found not guilty of health and safety breaches related to a fatal crane accident in Crewe, seven years post the incident.
- The crane collapse at a construction site in Crewe resulted in the tragic loss of three lives, triggering an extensive investigation.
- Chester Crown Court trial concluded with a directive for a not guilty verdict due to lack of sufficient evidence against Falcon.
- Norfolk’s Falcon Cranes expressed disappointment over the prosecution but confirmed their cooperation throughout the investigation.
- Falcon maintains its support for the affected families, reiterating their commitment to ongoing support and condolences.
In a significant legal development, Falcon Tower Crane Services was acquitted of health and safety violations following a tragic crane accident in Crewe that took place seven years ago. The accident, which occurred on 21st June 2017, resulted in the deaths of three individuals when the crane toppled over during its erection at a Seddon new-build care home project on Dunwoody Way. The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) initiated charges against Falcon Towers last year, following an exhaustive probe into the incident.
The trial, held at Chester Crown Court, commenced earlier this month and was projected to continue for four weeks. However, the proceedings were unexpectedly curtailed after ten days when the presiding judge instructed the jury to deliver not guilty verdicts. This direction was predicated on insufficient evidence to sustain the prosecution’s claims of safety breaches by Falcon Tower Cranes.
Following the acquittal, a spokesperson for Falcon expressed deep regret for the incident, acknowledging its profound impact. They emphasised the company’s dedicated support to the bereaved families and reiterated their dissatisfaction with the HSE’s decision to prosecute. The spokesperson stated, “We have been deeply affected by the incident. The company has done all it can to provide support to the families of those who suffered, with our thoughts remaining with them at all times. Throughout this 7.5-year-long investigation, the company has cooperated fully with all authorities. We were extremely disappointed the HSE chose to prosecute the company for what it considered to have been health and safety breaches.”
The spokesperson concluded by asserting their satisfaction with the not guilty verdicts, affirming belief in Falcon’s adherence to safety standards. Despite the acquittal, the emphasis remains on the tragedy of the event and ongoing solidarity with the families of the victims.
Falcon Tower Crane Services’ acquittal underscores the complexities involved in attributing culpability in construction-related accidents.
