FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Third Avenue Bridge in downtown Fort Lauderdale has reopened following Thursday’s tragedy that left a construction worker dead.
Mark Cerezin was in his car when a portion of a crane that was high up on a nearby building that is under construction came crashing down. He was seen on cellphone video helping a woman who was injured when it struck her vehicle.
“After it hit my car, it bounced in the air and then landed on the car next to me,” he said. “That big blue piece literally launched back off the bridge in the air, flew to the side and landed on the car next to me.”
Authorities say staff in a construction zone east of the bridge were working on the crane.
They said the crane itself did not fail, but it was the platform that workers had equipment staged on that fell onto the bridge below.
According to first responders, an operator was in the process of hoisting the piece of the crane to the top of the building and placing it on some scaffolding when it came crashing down.
Officials say a worker who was in the blue structure fell with it and died. He was identified Friday as 27-year-old Jorge De La Torre.
Another person was rushed to a hospital and is in stable condition. Officials said two others sustained minor injuries.
“My heart goes out to the family, friends and co-workers of the individual who tragically died yesterday amid a crane accident on SE 3rd Avenue at the New River bridge,” Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis said in a statement. “My thoughts are also with the two others who were injured. I would like to thank our Police and Fire departments for their quick response to the accident. Additionally, I would like to thank the city manager and the leadership of FDOT for working closely together to ensure the bridge was inspected and repaired overnight so it could safely reopen. We will have staff continue to work with other government agencies to determine what caused this accident to ensure future safety.”
Southeast Third Avenue was closed to vehicle traffic after the accident and the New River was closed to marine traffic in the area.
A spokesperson for Broward County confirmed Friday morning that county bridge staff and FDOT bridge inspectors inspected the bridge Thursday night and determined that it was safe for travel.
“County staff secured the bridge temporarily until we can design and install the permanent repairs,” the spokesperson said in an email to Local 10 News. “The bridge is fully functioning for both vehicular and boat traffic.”
OSHA has since opened an investigation into the accident involving Phoenix Rigging & Erecting LLC, Kast Construction, LLC, and Maxim Crane Works LP.