The construction worker who was killed Wednesday when a hook snapped off a crane had only been employed with TXI of Dallas for a short time.

LOUIS DELUCA/DMN

Investigators look over the scene of an accident at a construction project behind the Stoneleigh Hotel on Wednesday.

View larger More photos Photo store

Omar Wray, 37, of Irving, was killed at a construction site on Maple Avenue in Dallas when he was struck by the crane's hook.

"We can't release any information on him," TXI spokesperson Maurice Osborn said. "He's a relatively new employee. He was a ready mix driver and had just delivered a load of concrete to the site."

The incident occurred after Mr. Wray and a co-worker had dumped cement into a bucket that was attached to a crane to be moved, Mr. Osborn said. "They had completed that process and the drivers were preparing the truck to leave the site."

Officials from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration are investigating the accident, which occurred at the site of a planned high-rise condominium behind the Stoneleigh Hotel.

OSHA officials said they could not release information about the case and have six months to complete their investigation. "Once we begin our investigation, we don't comment," said spokeswoman Diana Petterson.

Turner Construction Co. is overseeing the project, but the victim worked for a subcontractor, said Matt Papenfus, Turner's general manager.

Turner officials recently gave the construction crew, including subcontractors a safety seminar on cranes, Mr. Papenfus said.

"We recently held a crane safety stand-down on all turner projects throughout the country to reinforce best practices in the safe use and operation of cranes," he said.

Kevin Messenger, Chief Operating Officer of the crane company, Lewis Equipment, released the following statement:

"Right now there are more questions than answers," he said. "We are working on-site to find out exactly what happened. We don't have enough information to report, but we are working with the investigators to find out exactly what happened and why. We are deeply saddened about the loss of life."

Crane safety has been a topic at City Hall in Dallas after crane crashes this year in New York and Miami killed nine people combined.

Council member Mitchell Rasansky has been pushing for more city control over crane operators in Dallas. Currently, OSHA is the only group to have oversight of crane operations.

"When they apply for a (building) permit there should be an additional fee," Mr. Rasansky said. "These cranes have to be inspected even if we have to hire an engineer who is familiar with cranes and have them inspected."

Residents living near the construction site said they could hear and see the crane disengage with the hook.

Kelly Boone said he was at home on the 11th floor of the nearby Azure building when he heard a screeching noise.

"I heard a strange metal-on-metal noise," he said. "I saw the hook assembly fall off the crane."

Mr. Boone said he was saddened to find out the worker had been killed.

"It's just devastating," he said.