A massive construction crane collapsed in Lower Manhattan on Friday morning, killing at least one person and injuring many others after they were caught in the impact, officials said.
The incident happened around 8:30 a.m. when the crane, which was swinging a wrecking ball at the time, toppled over on Worth St. near Church St., reported the New York Post. It's not clear what caused the crane collapse, but it occurred as heavy snow fell onto the city.
#FDNY on scene of crane collapse at 40 Worth St & W Bdwy in Manhattan. 1 fatality confirmed, 2 serious pic.twitter.com/M7NP9heiyq
— FDNY (@FDNY) February 5, 2016
The crane crushed several cars parked on the street, killing one person at the scene and trapping another person inside a vehicle who was later rescued by responding firefighters. Two people who were injured during the collapse were transported to Bellevue Hospital in serious condition.
#FDNY on scene of crane collapse at 40 Worth St & W Bdwy in Manhattan. 1 patient confirmed DOA, 2 serious pic.twitter.com/NLGhUGgTgI — FDNY (@FDNY) February 5, 2016
Witnesses speaking to local news crews described the incident, as well as its aftermath.
"I just felt it. It felt like a bomb," one witness said, according to CBS New York. "This is just crazy, it's huge - it's enormous."
One witness, Jesse Natale, said he was waiting for the light at the intersection when the crane collapsed. "If I caught that light, I'd be dead probably," he said. "It looked like an avalanche - or that the roof was caving in from the snow"
Another witness, Blair Steele, said she was on her way to work when she saw the crane on the ground.
"I couldn't even see all the way to the other end," she said about the downed crane, according to the New York Daily News. "Everyone was in shock. Even the police that were here were totally shocked."
"I can't believe it," she added. "I remember looking up at it last night and said to myself, 'This is a huge crane.'"
Mayor Bill De Blasio is on his way to the scene.
