One injured in crane collapse

AUSTIN (KXAN) - One person was seriously injured in the collapse of a construction crane just after noon Friday at a construction site at the Westminster Manor retirement community, 4100 Jackson Ave.

Austin firefighters, EMS and police responded to the scene.

The 36 year old injured man was not inside the crane, but nearby, officials said. It is unknown if he is a construction worker. Police said he has life life-threatening injuries.

The crane was said to be leaking fuel, but officials said it is not considered a major spill.

One construction worker on the scene told KXAN staff the injured man had a head injury and was bleeding. He also said the ground was too soft to support the crane and that it lifted a cement bucket and tipped over. He said there are five different companies doing construction on the expansion of the facility.

Officials from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration responded to the site and it is shut down for the investigation for part of the day.

A spokesperson for Westminster Manor released this statement Friday:

“An individual was injured today in a construction-related accident at 4300 Bull Creek Avenue in Austin, north of the current Westminster Manor building at the site of construction of a new multi-story addition being managed by White Construction Company. The identity and the condition of the injured worker have not yet been released, but he is believed to have been an employee of a construction subcontractor. OSHA and the Austin Police Department are currently exploring the cause of the accident. Our independent living and healthcare center is open and operating under normal conditions and no Westminster Manor residents or personnel were injured in the accident. No other information as to the details of the accident is available at this time. The recent event is unfortunate and our thoughts and prayers are with the family of the injured individual.”