2 Workers Killed In Crane Accident At Hanover Construction Site

HANOVER TOWNSHIP, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- Two New Jersey construction worker have died following an accident involving a crane.

The workers were part of a crew building a new fire station when something went terribly wrong.

As CBS2's Hazel Sanchez reported, Whippany firefighters got the tragic call Thursday, responding to the construction site of their future fire house on Troy Hills Road off Route 10.

One construction worker was killed, crushed by a generator. Another worker was seriously injured and was later pronounced dead, according to the Morris County Prosecutor's office.

Investigators have not released the workers' names.

"It's a real tragedy, really. You get up in the morning to go to work and you're not going home," said Hanover resident Debbie Daiuto.

A crane crew had secured the generator and was moving it to its permanent location when it appears two of the four yellow support belts snapped, flipping the generator onto two workers who were guiding it into place, Sanchez reported.

Neighboring communities, including Madison and Cedar Knolls fire departments, came to assist Whippany's bravest who were the first to respond.

"I'm also in the construction business so seeing something like this is shocking," said Parsippany resident David Silva.

Morris County prosecutors are investigating the accident. It's unclear at this point what caused the crane straps to snap.

"It affects everybody; everybody is like, close-knit," said Daiuto.

Locals said it's a sad start to what was supposed to be a bright new beginning for the Whippany Fire Department.