Workers killed in Everett crane collapse mourned by friends, as mayor speculates on cause

The mayor in Everett, Massachusetts, is sharing more about the tragic crane collapse that left two people dead on Friday afternoon.

Mayor Carlo DeMaria tells NBC10 Boston that Larriston Lake is one of the two workers who was killed when a crane collapsed on him at the former Exxon Mobile Corporation terminal on the Mystic River.

“Now, seeing the photos of them and seeing them that day as well is not sitting really good with me,” DeMaria said.

Lake’s friends are mourning his death, as well.

Roy White says he’s beyond devastated after losing a friend that he saw as a big brother.

“He was just the type of guy that if you were going through something hard, he could give you advice. He was a leader, he never complained, he was never negative. He was just positive, loving and he would do anything for his family,” White said.

Lake was a father of four. White says he spoke with his wife after the deadly construction accident.

“His wife had called me last night, just crying and bawling about how the last time he heard him he was giving his daughter a kiss before he went to work and she was just crying about how she didn’t get to hear him one more time on her lunch break,” White said. “It’s horrible.“

A crane toppled over into the water Friday, killing two people.

DeMaria says the Occupational Safety and Health Administration isn’t on site investigating because of the ongoing government shutdown. But at this point, he says it seems a cable snapped.

“That’s what we’re being told,” the mayor said. “I’m hearing also that the crane might’ve been possibly in the water for a long time, for a while. Anything in water for a long time, especially salt water, could affect the cable and corroding the cable.”

Both men, one in his 20s and the other in his 40s, died doing the jobs that provided for their families.

“For him to be missing and lost and taken out of this world for such an accident, just a random accident, is horrible,” White said.

The Coast Guard is leading the investigation, which continues.