A 500-foot crane performing cleanup work at the National Cathedral fell over Wednesday, damaging at least one building and several vehicles near the Cathedral.
Richard Weinberg, a spokesperson for the Cathedral, told News4 the crane, positioned on the south side of the church, crashed into an adjoining building. The building, called the Herb House, had a portion of its roof ripped off. Fire officials said the Cathedral's main structure was not damaged.
The operator of the crane was inside the cab at the base when the accident happened. Authorities said immediately before it flipped, the crane's arm, extended approximately 550 feet, had just deposited material on the Cathedral roof. While rotating, the equipment's balance upset, and the crane came crashing down into an area between the roadway and the church itself.
The crane's operator was reportedly shaken, but able to walk away from the crash. He was being evaluated by paramedics. No other injuries were reported. 500 Ton Crane Collapsed at National Cathedral Washington, latest US news, latest news, News, interesting, tragedies, National Cathedral News, Crane collapse photos.
Read More: Msnbc