Crane companies to face court over 2005 fatal collapse in Worthing

Two crane companies will appear in court tomorrow charged with offences relating to the death of two men killed in a 2005 crane collapse in Worthing.

Gary Miles, 37 of Crowthorne, and Steven Boatman, 45 of Reading, were killed when a 30m crane fell at a site 135m from Durrington High School on 11 February 2005.

A third man was seriously injured.

Crane companies W D Bennett's Plant and Services and Eurolift (Tower Cranes) will appear in Worthing Magistrate’s Court tomorrow charged with health and safety breaches.

An inquest into the deaths in August 2006 found bolts had been loosened on the 40m-long jibs of the crane, causing it to collapse.

A verdict of accidental death was passed on the Willmott Dixon workers who were dismantling the crane at the time of the accident.