[NYguy]

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...s-control.html

Debris rains down from 85-story Midtown Manhattan skyscraper after crane spins out of control and strikes building amid strong winds


By LUKE KENTON
29 October 2020

A crane began spinning dangerously out of control atop a Midtown Manhattan skyscraper on Thursday night, striking the building and causing debris to rain down on the streets below.

The crane, attached to an 85-story luxury apartment tower on West 57th Street near Sixth Avenue, began spinning wildly amid high winds and heavy rain at 6:40pm.

Footage recorded by bystanders showed large pieces of debris falling down from the building, having been knocked loose by the crane.

Sparks were seen flying as the debris struck the rigging beneath the crane before plummeting to the street below.

The New York Fire Department reported just after 11:40pm that the crane had been secured.

There were no injuries sustained in incident, but Assistant Chief John Hodgens said, 'there is still some debris precariously hanging on the building and we are working ... to secure it.'

US Crane and Rigging, a company that installs the construction equipment in New York City, told NBC4 that the crane was the 'tallest freestanding crane in NYC's history, at 220 feet.'

Bystander Michael Illescash recalled to NY Daily News the chaotic scenes on the ground as crane began spinning out of control.

‘Everybody was running, and when I looked up, the crane was spinning. It was spinning in circles and it was ripping off pieces of the building,’ the 29-year-old said.

‘Its hook was ripping off pieces of the building. All the pieces, big metal pieces, were coming down.’

He added, ‘It was hitting metal with sparks and everything. Every time it hit the metal, we had to run inside.’