Two workers died on Saturday, December 6th, following a collision between a mobile gantry crane and a telescopic boom lift at a railway container yard in Cologne, Germany.

The victims, aged 64 and 83, were performing maintenance work from the platform of a 66-foot JLG boom lift, rented from Mobilift, at the Eifeltor freight yard. They were working at a height of approximately 16 to 17 meters when a container crane struck their lift, causing it to overturn.

The 83-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene. The 64-year-old man succumbed to his injuries later that evening in the hospital. Three other colleagues were treated in the hospital for shock.

Initial reports suggest the 32-year-old crane operator may have been unaware that the boom lift was operating in the immediate area. One unconfirmed account indicates the lift was actually performing work on the crane structure itself when the operator began moving it.

A joint investigation involving the police and workplace safety authorities is underway. If confirmed, negligence in the incident could lead to charges of culpable homicide against the crane operator.