Mar 17, 2008 5:30 am US/Eastern
East Side Residents Coping With Neighborhood Havoc
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
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Dozens of people were forced for their homes following the crane collapse.
Jenna Israel
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A massive crane has collapsed at a New York construction site, CBS station WCBS-TV reported Saturday.
CBS
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A massive crane collapses at a New York construction site, trapping several people in a building. Two people are dead and multiple injuries are being reported.
Eric Yang/CBS
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Rescue crews are searching for survivors amid the rubble of a New York City building collapse. Four people are dead, several are injured and several are reported missing.
CBS
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A section of a collapsed crane protrudes from a crushed building on 50th Street near Second Avenue Saturday, March 15, 2008, in New York City. The giant crane toppled over at a construction site and smashed into a block of East Side residential buildings.
Jason DeCrow/AP
The shock and horror of the crane collapse was followed by a major disruption in the lives of hundreds of East Siders. The crane collapse was a particular horror for residents of 300 E. 51st St. - who watched out their windows as the crane crashed down - and construction workers headed to their deaths.
"The gentlemen were all trying to hold on," said Pat Sorenson. "I looked out my window and saw them trying to hold on – that had been working on the crane. I have no idea if they jumped off, or were catapulted by the top snapping."
The accident led to the mandatory evacuation of 18 buildings - and tremendous disruption to residents of many more - as utilities were cut to parts of 50th and 51st streets.
"We've cut off gas to all the buildings because we are concerned about leakage due to the damage," said OEM Commissioner Joe Bruno. "We've cut off water to all of those buildings and electricity to some of them."
"There's no water and they just took off the heat. I think we're going to be going to the Marriott," said East Side resident Meryl Messineo.
Many of the residents in the buildings affected by the crane collapse had dogs and cats left behind, but the city moved quickly to ease their fears.
NYPD and Animal Control rescued pets from dozens of evacuated units. Evacuee Laurie Eisenson was happily reunited with her dog Ginger. "I know (Ginger) growled, and she was trying to bite the cop, he still got her out! So thank you officer McNeese," Eisenson told CBS 2.
Residents face long days of police checkpoints and interruption to daily routine, but most can count their blessings - a few of their neighbors lost everything.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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