Thomas Tracy
New York Daily News
(TNS)
A massive construction crane atop a high rise in Manhattan’s Hudson Yards caught fire and collapsed, striking the building across the street before plummetting more than 45 stories onto the street below Wednesday morning.
Terrified pedestrians scrambled for cover as a plume of thick black smoke could be seen for miles.
The crane caught fire on top of 550 10th Ave. near 41st St. about 7:30 a.m.
After catching fire, the arm of the crane became detached and fell in an arc onto cars along 10th Ave.
The crane arm slammed into a building across the street before swinging and striking the building it was once connected to and falling toward the sidewalk, stunning video of the collapse shows.
The crane arm appears to have landed within the construction zone of 550 10th Ave. and not on the street.
At least two people were struck by falling debris, according to early reports. A firefighter also suffered a minor injury.
Firefighters evacuated neighboring buildings, which included a hotel, and closed streets to cars and pedestrian traffic as they battled the blaze.
“Welcome to New York,” Heidi Elmore posted on Twitter with a video of firefighters racing to the scene. “Crane next to my hotel is on fire and collapsing so we had to evacuate.”
Videos posted on social media show the mangled arm on the sidewalk and thick black plumes of smoke pouring from the top of the crane as firefighters shot water onto the fire from adjoining buildings.
“Sounded like lightning or an explosion from the top of a crane on 41st st.,” Josh Page tweeted. “Firefighters hosing it down from the building parallel.”
The 47-story luxury rental tower the crane was atop of was still under construction and expected to be completed next year, according to the developers website.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
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