Crane Falls At National Cathedral

A crane that was performing cleanup work at the National Cathedral after the earthquake two weeks ago has toppled at the site during a late morning thunder storm, officials at the cathedral confirm. 

There were no injuries that resulted from the incident, officials say. EMS responded to the scene, and the operator of the crane was transported to the hospital as a precaution.

"There was a construction contractor who was here to repair the damage from last week’s earthquake. The crane was extended about 350 feet and the crane fell," says Assistant Fire Chief Timothy Gerhart. 

The crane crushed three unoccupied cars and damaged two buildings near the church that are part of the campus; the Herb Cottage and the Church House, which holds the bishop's office. The bishop and his staff were not harmed.

There were no other injuries and Cathedral employee Leigh Harrison says he's grateful for that.

"We've made jokes about the various plagues that happened in the Bible. And this almost seems like another of those," he says.

The cathedral did not sustain any additional damage in the accident. It did suffer some significant damage to its main tower in the earthquake, however, losing three of four spires on the tower.