TWO men have been killed after a crane collapsed at a building site in Crewe, police have revealed.
Air ambulance leaves site of crane incident in Crewe
Meanwhile, a parent and a child were taken to hospital as a precautionary measure after the plummeting industrial machine caused damage to a house.
Two men have died after a crane collapsed at a building site in Crewe, police said.
Another man, believed to be the crane driver, was taken to Royal Stoke Hospital with serious injuries, which Cheshire Police said were not thought to be life threatening.
The occupants of a house damaged by the falling crane were not injured.
Chief Superintendent Matt Welsted said: “This is a truly tragic incident, and our deepest condolences go out to the families affected at this extremely difficult time.
“This is a multi-agency operation and we are working closely with the Health and Safety Executive, Local Authority, and Building Control to establish the full circumstances of the incident, however I would like to reassure members of the public that nobody else is at risk.
“A residential property has been damaged as a result of the incident, the occupants were not injured and were checked over by medical professionals.
“They have since been relocated while the investigation continues.
“The bodies of those who have sadly lost their lives will shortly be recovered from the scene.
“I would ask that anybody who may have any footage of the scene, to please respect the families of those involved.
“Any footage that you believe could help officers with their inquiries, please send to our public contact email to allow us to effectively investigate the incident.”
Key Events
Two men dead
Police have now confirmed that two men have died after today’s crane collapse in Crewe.
‘Crane being cut’
An eyewitness near the scene tells us that fire crews are using cutting equipment to remove parts of the crane.
Crews ‘working to release two people trapped’
Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service have just updated their website with this statement:
North West Ambulance Service has confirmed that three people have been taken to hospital – the crane driver by air ambulance and a parent and child, as a precaution, from the house damaged by the falling crane.
Following a multi-agency review of the scene Cheshire firefighters are working alongside colleagues from Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) team to release two other people trapped after the crane collapsed.
We’ll bring you all the latest when we have more.
As soon as we have more information on this incident, we’ll post it here.
Ambulance service update
Three people have been taken to hospital, North West Ambulance Service have confirmed.
One man was taken to Royal Stoke University Hospital while a parent and child were taken to Leighton Hospital for a check-up, a spokeswoman for the ambulance service said.
‘Three people taken to hospital’
We’re hearing reports that three people have now been taken to hospital after the crane collapse. No further details have been given.
What we know so far
We’re waiting for an update from Cheshire Police, but here’s what has been confirmed:
- Police were first called to a new build site off Dunwoody Way in Crewe at 4.30pm this evening
- A crane collapsed and three people were trapped, officers said
- One man, believed to be the crane driver, has been airlifted to hospital
- Dunwoody Way is closed at its junction with West Street, near Morrisons
- The Health and Safety Executive, who investigate workplace incidents, have been informed
- Emergency services remain at the scene, where another crane has just arrived
Another crane arrives at the police cordon
More pictures from the scene
Photographer Steve Allen has taken these pictures from the scene
Police tape surrounds the area
Police tape surrounds the area where the crane collapsed
Latest from Cheshire Fire
Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service said:
Firefighters remain at the scene and the incident ground has been divided into two sectors.
“A building inspector has been asked to attend.”
Area being developed for homes
Photo of the collapsed crane
Crane collapsed on residential development site
It is understood the crane collapsed on a site being used to build new homes.
The site was sold off by Bombardier Transportation 18 months ago for a residential development.
Reporter is now on the scene
Road closures update
Several fire crews nearby
M.E.N photographer Steve Allen is now at the building site
Ambulance crews remain at the scene
Latest photos of the scene
Here’s an update from Crewe Chronicle reporter Leanne Palin
Latest from the police
At 4.30pm on Wednesday 21 June 2017, police were called to a new build site near Morrisons in Dunwoody Way in Crewe following reports of a collapsed crane.
The crane collapsed trapping three people underneath – emergency services are working at the scene.
One man has been airlifted to hospital with unconfirmed injuries.
Dunwoody Way is closed at its junction of West Street near to Morrisons.
The Health and Safety Executive have been informed.
The HSE has been informed
A Cheshire Police spokeswoman said: “The Health and Safety Executive have been informed.”
Video of the air ambulance
Pictures from the scene
Here’s what we know so far about the incident
A man has been airlifted to hospital after a crane collapsed in Crewe this afternoon.
A spokesman for Cheshire Police said that the crane on Dunwoody Way collapsed trapping three people, and that firefighters and paramedics are also at the scene.
Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service said that one fire engine from Crewe and one from Winsford have been sent to the incident, along with the major incident unit from Winsford.
A spokesman for the fire service also said that firefighters have managed to release one of the three casualties that were trapped, adding: “Firefighters have released one casualty, a man believed to be the crane driver, who is being taken to hospital by air ambulance.”
The emergency services remain on the scene and this story will be updated as more information becomes available.
One man has been taken to hospital
The fire service said a man, believed to be the crane driver, had been released and was being taken to hospital by air ambulance.
‘Police led incident’
A spokesman for the North West Ambulance Service has confirmed that it’s a ‘police led incident’.
‘Major incident’
A man working nearby said he’s heard reports of a ‘major incident’.
He reported ‘a lot’ of police, emergency services and other first responders making their way to the scene.
“People are just saying that something major has happened and it’s not looking good,” he said.
