4 dead after the collapse of a construction crane in Seattle

SEATTLE (AP) – Four people were killed and three injured when a construction crane collapsed Saturday in downtown Seattle, blocking five cars under it.

The four were dead by the time firefighters arrived at the scene, the Seattle Fire Department said. Three people were transported to the hospital, the department said.

The crane collapsed near the intersection of Mercer Street and Fairview Avenue, near Interstate 5, shortly after 3 pm.

"It was terrifying," said Esther The Nelson Times, a biotechnology researcher working in a nearby building.

"The wind was blowing very hard," she said, adding that the crane seemed to break in two.

The crane was at the top of an office building under construction in a densely populated area.

The tweets of the scene showed that the crane had collapsed in the street and that vehicles were stopped nearby.

All lanes were closed and motorists had to avoid the area.

While Amazon and other technology companies are increasing their recruitments in Seattle, the city has dozens of construction cranes, office towers and apartments. In January, there were about 60 construction cranes in Seattle, more than any other US city.