FORT LAUDERDALE.- One person died and two more were hospitalized Thursday after part of a crane fell from a building onto a bridge in downtown Fort Lauderdale, Florida, officials said.
Workers were in the process of increasing the size of the crane during the construction of a skyscraper when the section in question came loose, Fort Lauderdale Fire and Rescue Chief Stephen Gollan said at a news conference. A construction worker fell along with part of the crane, causing fatal injuries, authorities said. The rest of the crane remained secured to the building.
The crane section fell onto a nearby bridge, causing damage to at least two vehicles, Gollan said. A man and a woman who were on the ground were taken to a nearby hospital, where they remained in stable condition. Another person received medical attention at the scene and refused to be transported to the hospital.
The bridge was damaged by the fall of the crane section, so the road will remain closed indefinitely until it is repaired. The river that crosses under the bridge was also closed to navigation.
The authorities do not currently know what caused the crane section to fall. The United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Fort Lauderdale Fire and Rescue will investigate the incident.
