Texas crane cable snaps, killing worker on ground

A crane hook plummeted to the ground and killed a worker after a cable snapped Wednesday, police said.

A crane operator was raising a hook when the cable snapped and the hook fell on the worker, police Sgt. Gil Cerda told The Dallas Morning News.

On Wednesday evening, workers were examining part of an apparently damaged cable extending from a crane atop a several-story unfinished building.

The name of the worker was not released because the family had not yet been notified, said Matt Papenfus, general manager of Turner Construction.

The employee did not work for Turner but for subcontractor Texas Industries Inc., Papenfus said. Kenneth R. Allen, vice president and treasurer for TXI, a construction materials provider, called it a "tragic accident."

The crane was provided by Lewis Equipment Co.

Kevin Messenger, the company's chief operating officer, said in a statement there "are more questions than answers" about what happened.

Federal safety officials will investigate. Work at the site, which will be a high-rise condominium complex, is on hold until the investigation is complete.