A Miami crane collapse on Friday sent a crane arm crashing onto the pool deck of a neighboring luxury high-rise while workers held on to the malfunctioning structure as it failed during assembly. The incident unfolded at the One Plaza West Brickell condo building, where video captured the arm flying through the air before striking the elevated pool area and going partly into the pool.
The footage, recorded by Macie Norrod, showed several construction workers in green vests clinging to the upper part of the crane before they made their way down ladders to the ground. Norrod, who watched the scene from her home office, said she was in shock and disbelief. She also said she feared the workers might be crushed by the craneβs weights as the collapse played out. Miami Fire Rescue spokesperson Lt. Pete Sanchez said the crane was not yet operational and was being assembled when it experienced some kind of failure.
Firefighters moved quickly to the roof deck after the crash and searched the area, Sanchez said. He said crews confirmed there were no victims on the pool deck. Officials then secured the area and blocked access so residents and the public could not enter while crews checked that the scene was safe. A photo shared by Miami Fire Rescue showed the crane arm resting on the rooftop deck and partially submerged in the pool.
The construction crew told authorities that all workers were accounted for and none were hurt. That detail brought relief after the chaotic scene, which briefly raised fears of a far worse outcome at one of Miamiβs prominent high-rise properties. The collapse happened during assembly, a phase that can be especially vulnerable because large crane sections are still being fitted and tested before full use.
