I can see a gust of wind picking up that sheet of roofing, and the guy on the ladder trying to wrestle it from chopping down on somebody below. I'd do the same, and I wouldn't have time to let go as it swung into the line.
The crane accident seems like sheer recklessness, but at least something went right:
"Profab coworker Richard Deness administered CPR, and within 30 seconds Gilbert was breathing and his heart was beating"
