Crane smashes into apartment block

Residents of an apartment block have had a lucky escape after a crane crashed into their building. Emergency crews attended the scene at Chandlers Wharf, Tabley Street, Liverpool, after reports that residents were trapped inside. James Berry, group manager for Merseyside Fire and Rescue, said the crane driver was rescued from the roof and is believed to be in a stable condition in hospital. He said a sweep was conducted on all floors of the building to make sure all residents were accounted for after a five-ton weight attached to the crane's arm careered through the building. "It's fortunate that, at that time of the day, the majority of flats would have been unoccupied," he said. Mr Berry said he could not comment on how the accident happened. The crane had been working on a nearby apartment block at the time of the incident. A site worker, who did not want to be named, said the crane driver was only a temporary member of staff, filling in for the usual driver who had taken a day off. Anthony Turner, 22, who lives next door to the apartment block said: "I heard a massive crash - I thought it was a plane going down. "I ran out onto my balcony and could see debris flying everywhere and could hear people screaming."

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ITN | July 6, 2009

Tags:. .crews. .apartment. .accounted. .tabley. .scene