The investigation continues into the partial collapse of a large crane in Midtown Manhattan on Wednesday morning that struck a high-rise building and caught fire, injuring 10 people.
The crane caught fire at around 7:25 a.m. on July 26 on 10th Avenue and West 41st Street, injuring eight civilians and two firefighters, authorities said.
The incident took place on top of a 50-story building under construction, with a portion of the crane collapsing onto 10th Avenue, hitting an adjacent building on the way down. Several blocks surrounding the site has been closed for safety reasons.
Traffic has also been closed between West 41st and West 42nd Streets, in the vicinity of 10th and 11th Avenues, near Hudson Yards.
The crane reportedly burst into flames inside the engine compartment while an operator was in control. The operator tried to put it out by hand with a fire extinguisher but couldn’t do so. The FDNY sent 50 units and 220 fire personnel to the scene.
The cause of the fire and the partial collapse of the crane has yet to be determined. The Department of Buildings is conducting an investigation.
Mayor Eric Adams said Wednesday morning that the city would work carefully to remove the crane.
“We are going to make sure it is done in a very orderly fashion. As you can see from the debris in the street, this could have been much worse,” Hizzoner said. “We were extremely fortunate.”
The crane had been carrying a 16-ton load that dramatically plummeted to the street below, which caused several minor injuries in the process, according to FDNY First Deputy Commissioner Joseph Pfeifer. While one firefighter reportedly was transferred to a local hospital due to suffering chest pains, all of those involved are expected to survive. Firefighters sprayed water from surrounding buildings in order to quell the blaze.
Department of Buildings Commissioner Jimmy Oddo told reporters that the incident occurred at a 54-story mixed-use building and the the DOB will be investigating the structural integrity of the buildings struck by the crane.
