A tragic incident occurred in Manhattan's Hudson Yards on Wednesday when a construction crane caught fire and partially collapsed onto the street below. The crane operator, identified as Chris Van Duyne of Rockaway, New Jersey, had his operating license suspended in the past after a co-worker fell to his death. The Department of Buildings (DOB) confirmed that Van Duyne was operating the crane at the time of the incident, but his name was not listed on the construction paperwork. The DOB is investigating the unusual commission oversight.

The Van Duyne brothers, Chris and James, had previously lost their tower-crane operators' licenses in September 2008 after a crane rigger fell to his death while they were dismantling a crane. The site where the incident occurred had already accumulated 46 violations and 24 complaints since construction began in 2006.

During Wednesday's incident, the crane, owned by New York City Crane & Equipment Corp, was carrying 16 tons of concrete when a fire broke out on the 45th floor of the building. Van Duyne attempted to extinguish the flames but was unsuccessful. He then fled the crane as it snapped and struck a neighboring building, causing debris to fall to the ground below. Twelve people, including three firefighters, were injured in the incident.

The cause of the fire is yet to be determined, but sources at the DOB suspect leaked hydraulic fluid as a potential ignition source. The DOB plans to conduct an independent assessment to determine the exact cause.

Local authorities, including the FDNY and the Department of Buildings, praised the crane operator for his efforts to control the fire and evacuate the crane safely. Mayor Adams emphasized the fortunate timing of the incident, as the busy area would have had higher foot traffic during regular hours.

The affected area on 10th Avenue between West 41st and 42nd Streets was closed off, causing traffic disruptions. Nearby buildings were evacuated, and residents were advised to keep their windows shut. The NYPD advised drivers to avoid the area, while 9th and 11th Avenues remained open.

This incident once again raises concerns about construction safety in New York City and the need for stricter regulations to prevent such accidents in the future.