First indications are that the tyres of the crane – operated by US-based contractor UCW (United Contractors Midwest) – slipped off the recently paved eastbound side of the highway, which caused the load to become imbalanced.
UCW, which specialises in large projects of this nature, has a fleet of 12 cranes, ranging in size from 30t (33USt) rough terrain hydraulic cranes to 75t (84USt) wire rope truck cranes.
The crane involved in the accident was working on the reconstruction of nine miles of I74 through the heart of Peoria.
