Click photo to enlarge
The crane sits at an awkward angle after it fell over.
Photo by Lisa Gallagher
Motorists and pedestrians were lucky to escape injury
when a crane, capable of holding up to 70 tonne, crashed on to
the street in front of them in central Dunedin this
morning.
The 63-metre crane, operated by Dunedin Crane Hire, had
completed the installation of a cooling tower on the top of
Dunedin Hospital when the incident happened about
10.45am.
The arm of the crane fell down Frederick St and crossed the
intersection with Cumberland St, where cars were waiting at
the lights.
There were reports of the Dunedin Hospital building shaking
when the crane collapsed and many bystanders heard a loud
crash.
St Hildas pupil Lauren Dewhirst saw the crane fall from her
classroom.
"Oh my goodness. I'm not at the hospital but my friends and I
were sitting in our class at St Hilda's Collegiate and
witnessed the giant crane fall over this morning.
"We were on the third floor and had a perfect view of it just
fall. I hope the people are okay because that was the
scariest thing I have ever seen in my life," she said in an
email to ODT Online.
No-one was injured and the crane driver, who was said to be
very experienced, was shaken but unhurt by the incident.
Police expected the section of Frederick St to be closed for
about three hours as they worked to remove the crane.
Hundreds of bystanders gathered to watch.
Traffic diversions were set up on George St, Frederick St and
Cumberland St.
