Crane collapses in New York's Lower Manhattan; at least 1 killed

NEW YORK -- A crane collapsed in Lower Manhattan Friday morning, crushing a row of parked cars and killing at least one person.

The massive crane came crashing down at Worth and Church streets in the Tribeca neighborhood just before 8:30 a.m., clipping one building in the process.

Officials said one person was killed and three others were injured - one minor injury, one moderate injury and one serious injury.

David Wichs -- a 38-year-old pedestrian who lives on the Upper West Side -- was pronounced dead at the scene, while two others were rescued from vehicles before being rushed to the hospital. A 45-year-old woman identified as Dawn Kojima, of Nutley, suffered a leg injury, while 73-year-old Thomas O'Brien sustained a laceration to the head.

PHOTOS: Crane collapses in New York City's Tribeca neighborhood

The construction crane, owned by Bay Crane and operated by Galasso Trucking and Rigging, was previously positioned as high as 20 stories. After the collapse, it stretched across several blocks. It landed across multiple parked cars, smashing their roofs.

Mayor Bill de Blasio said the crane was being moved into a secure position because of high winds when the incident occurred. The crane was last inspected Thursday morning, and no work was being done at the site Friday. He said crews were keeping people and traffic away from the scene as the crane was being lowered, which likely prevented the injury total from being higher.

No workers were injured, and there is no immediate word on what caused the crane to flip over, but it is believed the weather may have been a factor.

The force of the collapse caused a water-main break at Worth Street and West Broadway and a possible gas-main break on the West Broadway side. There were no immediate reports of elevated gas levels.

The New York City Office of Emergency Management said there is no structural damage to any of the impacted buildings. Officials said four structures were damaged, most on the first floor. Still, several office buildings in the area were evacuated.

It appears the crane was working on 60 Hudson Street, a longtime industrial building undergoing renovation to luxury apartments. The crane was parked on Worth Street and had been lifting wood and other equipment to the roof.