Platform collapse kills 2, injures 1

Scissor lift collapses at Port Everglades

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Two Port Everglades public works employees were killed and a third was injured when a scissor lift collapsed at Port Everglades Friday morning, according to the Broward Sheriff's Office.

Authorities said Kenneth Krason, 49, of Boca Raton and Mark Freeman, 51, of Coconut Creek died in the accident.

Thomas Fischer, 49, remains hospitalized at Broward Health Medical Center in critical condition.

The construction accident happened at berth 2, located at 1801 SE 18th Street, about 11 a.m.

The workers were doing routine maintenance work on the walkway that passengers use to move between the berth terminal and a cruise ship when the lift fell on its side, BSO says.

Investigators said the men were sent crashing onto the pavement. The top platform was extended just over 40 feet in the air at the time of the incident.

Freeman and Fisher had been on the job for only five days, authorities say. Krason had been a county employee since 1991, working at the port since 1997.

"It was a significant boom, and you could tell it wasn't a car accident," said Lorne Hailstone. "It was a little difficult to see because as you can see, when the crane is lying on its side like that, you don't know whether it had already been there or maybe they were doing some repairs on it or something like that, but obviously with the extension out like that, you can tell the cherry picker was up high. You really feel bad for the families. These fellas went to work this morning fully expecting to come home after work and enjoy a weekend. Unfortunately, they're not coming home."