A piece of a construction crane fell onto a drawbridge in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Thursday afternoon. One worker was killed and three other people were injured, one seriously.
The incident occurred when workers were attempting to increase the height of a crane during the construction of a skyscraper. A section that was to be added to the crane broke off, falling onto the bridge that crosses the New River and taking with it an employee, who died after suffering fatal injuries. This was explained by Stephen Gollan, chief of the Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue, who added:
The individuals that were on the bridge at the time of the incident in the vehicles: one was transported to the hospital in stable conditions, and another one was transported with minor injuries. There was a third individual that was passing by in a car thatal so had minor injuries.
WATCH: A construction worker is dead and two people were taken to the hospital after a portion of a crane dropped onto the SE 3rd. Avenue bridge and onto cars crossing the New River in downtown Fort Lauderdale this afternoon. (Video courtesy of Dan Thron). Follow updates:… pic.twitter.com/KqrISxnU9L
— South Florida Sun Sentinel (@SunSentinel) April 4, 2024
The authorities blocked all passage in both directions, both for vehicles and boats. They also announced that they were checking the building under construction "floor by floor" and "securing the area around the collapse."
The collapse also left a blockage in the bridge. Gollan therefore warned that passage will remain blocked until "structural integrity of the bridge" can be assured. By midday Friday, authorities announced that it had reopened.
The scene remains under investigation.
