Crane firm to be prosecuted over building site collapse in which three men died

A company is to be prosecuted over a crane collapse which resulted in the deaths of three men.

Falcon Tower Crane Services Limited will appear in court later this week over the deaths of 18-year-old Rhys Barker, 36-year-old David Newall and 43-year-old David Webb after the collapse at a construction site in Dunwoody Way, Crewe, Cheshire on June 21 2017.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) said on Monday that the company had been charged with two breaches of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, following a “long and complex” investigation.

The company, registered to an address in Shipdham, Norfolk, will appear at Chester Crown Court for a plea and trial preparation hearing on Friday, the HSE said.

Mr Barker, from Castleford, Mr Newall, from Bradford, and Mr Webb, from Northampton, died following the collapse which emergency services said at the time occurred at a new-build construction site.

The crane fell on to a house, although the occupants were not injured.