Late Thursday afternoon in the downtown section of Fort Lauderdale, sections of a construction crane fell onto the roadway of a drawbridge. At least two vehicles may have been struck, or involved. Rescue crews on the scene have confirmed there has been one fatality, with other injuries resulting from the wreckage striking at least one car. A construction worker is said to have perished in the accident.

Construction was taking place on one adjoining building to the bridge approach, and the crane was in the process of being erected when a failure was reported to have taken place. Reports have two large sections of the crane mast coming down, with one landing on a car, and the second possibly landing beside the bridge. The segments of the crane fell a few hundred feet, with one main section coming down and trapping one vehicle. Two injuries to motorists on the bridgeway have led to them being hospitalized.

DEVELOPING - A portion of a crane has crashed onto a bridge in downtown Fort Lauderdale, crushing a car. The latest here: https://t.co/B6jnmsXfpr pic.twitter.com/VWHK7GRb14

— WPLG Local 10 News (@WPLGLocal10) April 4, 2024

New River carves the downtown area of Fort Lauderdale and there are a variety of drawbridges in that sector of town. This was the Southeast Third Avenue bridge, where several taller buildings have been erected alongside that street. Considering the time of day and the congested location, it is a relief more vehicles and people were not involved.

For now, both road and waterway traffic will be affected indefinitely, with street closures evident, but also reports say the bridge is not currently operational. This will affect the passage of larger watercraft on or seeking to reach the western portion of the river, affecting access to the larger Intracoastal Waterway east of the bridge location. 

🚨#UPDATE: More footage shows the aftermath after a portion of a crane collapsed falling onto passing vehicles killing one person and injuring one other the cause on how it happened is not yet known pic.twitter.com/jdBq6KdBXS

— R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) April 4, 2024

This is a breaking story. RedState will bring you updates as they become available.