FORT LAUDERDALE, FL – In a tragic incident, a crane accident at a construction site in downtown Fort Lauderdale has claimed the life of a worker and left two other individuals injured, authorities said on Thursday.
The mishap occurred during a procedure known as “stepping the crane,” which was aimed at adding height to the crane, according to Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue Chief Stephen Gollan. A portion of the crane detached and fell, taking a construction worker with it, who was fatally injured in the process. Contrarily, the main structure of the crane remained fastened to the building.
In addition to the worker fatality, the disengaged crane section crashed onto a nearby bridge, damaging at least two vehicles. Two individuals, a male and a female, who happened to be in the area at that time, sustained injuries and were promptly transported to a nearby hospital, where they are currently in stable condition. Another individual received on-site treatment and declined to be taken to the hospital.
The incident led to significant damage to the bridge, prompting authorities to withhold regular traffic indefinitely until necessary repairs are carried out. Marine traffic in the river underneath the bridge was also halted due to safety concerns.
The exact cause of the falling crane section remains unknown. An investigation will be conducted to determine what caused the incident.