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Portion of crane lands on Fort Lauderdale bridge, crushing car; 1 dead

Construction worker falls to death; 2 others taken to hospital
WTVJ aerial of crane debris on top of car on Fort Lauderdale bridge, April 4, 2024
Posted at 5:42 PM, Apr 04, 2024
and last updated 2024-04-04 18:21:51-04

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — A portion of a crane fell onto a bridge spanning the New River in downtown Fort Lauderdale on Thursday afternoon, killing a construction worker and sending two other people to a hospital.

It happened at about 4:30 p.m. on the Southeast Third Avenue bridge.

News helicopter aerials showed a piece of crane debris on top of the car.

Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue Chief Stephen Golen said construction workers at a nearby building were in the process of "stepping the crane" when a piece of it plummeted to the ground, crushing a car.

closeup of piece of crane on top of car on Fort Lauderdale bridge, April 4, 2024
A piece of crane that fell from a nearby construction site crushed this car on the Southeast Third Avenue bridge, April 4, 2024, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

"Unfortunately, one of the workers had fallen with the load off the side of the building," Golen said.

One person was taken to a hospital in stable condition, and another was taken to a hospital with minor injuries, Golen said. A third person was treated at the scene, Golen said.

When the piece of crane fell, it left a hole in the bridge, Golen said. It will remain closed until the Florida Department of Transportation can determine its structural integrity, he said.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration will investigate the construction accident.