A Huge Crane Just Fell Down In Lower Manhattan; At Least One Dead
A large construction crane collapsed onto a street in Manhattan’s densely-populated TriBeCa neighborhood on Friday morning. According to the New York City Fire Department, one death and fifteen injuries have been reported so far. Several vehicles parked on Worth Street, onto which the crane fell, were crushed by the structure.
Authorities are currently investigating unconfirmed reports of a natural gas leak caused by the crane’s collapse. The crane, whose marking identified it as a “Bay Crane” model, was erected in the neighborhood in late January to install air conditioning equipment. Below you can see a video and photos taken by people near the site of the crash:
Image via Associated Press
Image via Associated Press
Photo of the crane collapse from Glenn Zito, an electrician who witnessed the crane fall down from nearby building. pic.twitter.com/RZJ4RVZ9lS
— Emma G. Fitzsimmons (@emmagf) February 5, 2016
#BREAKING video of TriBeCa #cranecollapse on 40 Worth St. #pix11news @breaking911 pic.twitter.com/ETuQQeAM9d
— Anthony DiLorenzo (@ADiLorenzoTV) February 5, 2016
Due to a construction incident, expect traffic delays & emergency personnel near W. Bway & Worth St in Manhattan. pic.twitter.com/GXAXXPJYwF
— NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) February 5, 2016
Crazy scene! Crane just collapsed in TriBeCa #nyc pic.twitter.com/uUFjaYIlci
— Keith V Smith (@KVSaint) February 5, 2016
#BreakingNews WATCH LIVE NOW: Crane collapse in lower Manhattan. https://t.co/bSvTIt1oSC photo credit:IG @rhdjonwrd pic.twitter.com/j1xQVhmYQN
— Alex Denis (@AlexDenisTV) February 5, 2016
According to outlets reporting from the scene of the crash, the crane appears to have been stationed at or near 40 Worth Street, a 20-story pre-war commercial office building situated between West Broadway and Church Street. Authorities told The New York Times that the initial call came from 57 Worth Street, a smaller building on the corner of Worth and Church. The Metropolitan Transit Authority has rerouted trains to bypass nearby subway stations. The area is currently being secured by at least 100 F.D.N.Y. personnel.
It is not immediately clear what caused the crane to fall.