Crane Collapse at Fort Lauderdale High-Rise Claims Construction Worker’s Life

A construction worker was killed and three bystanders were injured when a portion of a crane fell from a South Florida high-rise onto a nearby bridge on the afternoon of Thursday, April 4.

The incident occurred around 4:30 p.m. during the construction of a 43-story apartment building in downtown Fort Lauderdale as crews were “stepping the crane,” a process that involves adding a section to increase the crane’s height. A platform and pieces of the crane became dislodged and fell onto the Southeast Third Avenue bridge over the New River.

A construction worker fell with the crane section and did not survive.

Two vehicles were damaged by the falling section. According to the driver of one of the vehicles, a blue section of the crane essentially bounced off the front of his Tesla—setting off all the airbags—and landed on another vehicle. The other car was crushed.

Two people from vehicles on the bridge were transported to the hospital and another was treated at the scene. The crane also left a hole in the Southeast Third Avenue bridge, resulting in its closure until crews can assess the damage.

This is not the first incident involving the $151 million apartment building project, which is intended for mostly seniors. The construction company sued the developer regarding the size of the site; that lawsuit was settled. There were also delays and suits related to the site’s foundation.

Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) will conduct a thorough investigation into the cause of the crane collapse.

This event serves as a tragic reminder of the hazards crane operations can pose to workers and passersby. Although the cause of this crane collapse is under investigation, safety lapses, defective equipment, and inadequate training may put everyone at or near a construction site in grave danger.

Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this incident, and we will continue to follow the details of this investigation as they develop.