Crane accident kills area man, 41

By KERRY McAVOY, The Leader—Herald
AMSTERDAM — A Montgomery County man operating a crane at a construction company was killed Saturday after the boom of the crane buckled and pinned him underneath it.

Matthew J. Hentnik, 41, of McQuade Road in Cranesville, died following the accident at 211 Route 67 in the town of Amsterdam, a news release from the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office said.

Hentnik and a friend were working on the boom of the crane when it collapsed, the release said. The friend who was on the crane with Hentnik was not injured, Sheriff Michael J. Amato said.

Witnesses at the site were able to raise the boom and began first aid on the victim, the release said.

The Hagaman Volunteer Fire Department and the Greater Amsterdam Volunteer Ambulance Corps responded to the scene. A helicopter was placed on standby to transport the victim, but Hentnik was transported to St. Mary’s Hospital by GAVAC and later died from his injuries.
The accident occurred at Eric J. Pareene Trucking & Excavating, town Supervisor Tom DiMezza said this morning.

“It’s a set of unfortunate circumstances,” DiMezza said. “My sympathies go out to the family.”

A person who answered the phone at the business and identified himself as Pareene’s father this morning said Hentnik was not working on a project.

He said his son, Eric J. Pareene, and Hentnik were working together on the crane Saturday. He said it was typical for the two to work on Saturdays. He said it was like a hobby for the two of them.

“They were like brothers,” the man said. “It’s been very hard on all of us.”