In a shocking incident near Hell’s Kitchen, a towering construction crane caught fire and collapsed this morning, leaving 12 people injured, including 3 brave firefighters, Your Content has learned.
The initial count of those hurt doubled in the afternoon, but thankfully, all injuries are reported as non-life-threatening.
The crane, towering 45 stories high, was working at an under-construction building near Hudson Yards when the fire broke out around 7:30 a.m. The catastrophe caused the crane to crash into a nearby building before plummeting to the streets below.
The company operating the ill-fated crane, Monadnock Construction Inc., issued a statement expressing their concern for the workers involved and their cooperation with regulatory agencies in the investigation.
Meanwhile, an animal rights group raised concerns about the proximity of the accident to horse-drawn carriage stables in Midtown, urging the city to pass Ryder’s Law, a proposed bill to ban horse-drawn carriages.
The company that owned the crane, New York City Crane & Equipment Corp., was founded by a controversial figure known as the “King of Cranes.” The owner of a nearby supermarket described the terrifying moment when debris rained down, causing panic among employees.
The crane operator, who tried to extinguish the fire before escaping for his life, refused to comment on the incident. Dramatic footage captured the harrowing moment when the crane buckled under the intense flames, creating chaos and damage in the area.
Mayor Eric Adams praised the quick response of first responders, acknowledging that their actions saved lives and protected the streets.
As authorities continue their investigation, traffic in the vicinity remains closed, and more than 200 firefighters and emergency personnel are on the scene.
The cause of the fire that led to the collapse is yet to be determined, but it’s remarkable that no fatalities occurred given the severity of the incident, according to FDNY.
Stay tuned for more live updates as the story unfolds.