4 injured after crane, partial building collapse in Midtown, officials say

Several streets in the are near the partial collapse involving a crane in Midtown remain closed, according to the Atlanta Police Department.
Multiple streets will remain closed in the area near where a crane and partial building collapsed in Midtown Atlanta on Monday afternoon.
Published: May. 22, 2023 at 3:04 PM EDT|Updated: May. 22, 2023 at 11:23 PM EDT
Email This Link
Share on Pinterest
Share on LinkedIn

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - UPDATE: Midtown Blue announced that multiple streets will remain closed in the area near where a crane and building partially collapsed in Midtown Atlanta on Monday afternoon.

According to a news release by Midtown Blue, street closures remain on West Peachtree and Spring Streets between 10th and 12th Streets.

According to the release, “per APD, these corridors are likely to remain closed to traffic for the next several hours overnight, and possibly into the Tuesday AM rush hour or longer. Our Midtown Blue personnel remain in communication with APD and AFD about the developing situation, and we will provide more updates as they become available.”

It's unknown when residents will be let back into the building.

OSHA is investigating the crane collapse.

Editor’s Note: Atlanta News First misidentified the name and developer of the building where the incident took place. The Atlanta Police Department initially said the incident occurred at 1020 Spring Street. Portman Holdings and HKS are not involved with this project.

ORIGINAL STORY: At least four people were sent to the hospital with minor injuries after a partial collapse involving a crane at a building under construction, according to Atlanta Fire officials. They said everyone has been accounted for.

It happened Monday afternoon at a location at 1018 West Peachtree Street.

A one-block radius around the building has been evacuated, including an apartment complex.

West Peachtree Street between 10th Street and 12th Street will remain closed for a minimum of 12 hours, according to the Midtown Neighborhood Association.

A witness in an adjacent building said they felt their building shake and heard a boom when the incident happened. She said moments later, they were all asked to evacuate.

A fire spokesperson said it happened between the 9th and 10th floors. He said the crane is still standing, but a component fell from the top of it onto a portion of the building. Crews are waiting for building engineers and the owner of the crane to come on-site.

Video from the Atlanta News First drone shows the area where the believed collapse took place and the damage:

A crane in Midtown Atlanta failed on Monday causing a partial building collapse, fire officials said.

Motorists should avoid the area. Spring Street and West Peachtree Street are both closed between 10th Street and 12th Street. The Midtown Neighbors’ Association said West Peachtree Street will likely be closed for at least 12 hours.

Residents who were evacuated from the Ten West Apartment Complex told Atlanta News First that when they showed back up to their apartment, they were told by property management staff that they had until 7:30 p.m. to get some of their belongings, and they would have to stay elsewhere due to instability of the crane nearby.

“They told us that it may take around two to three days, but it could be tomorrow morning or the day after tomorrow, it really depends on the email they send us. It’s not really clear when we have to go and come back over here, so it’s bad,” Ten West Apartment Resident, Ambresh Sriestava, said.

There have been several crane and construction incidents in the Midtown area over the past several years.

In September 2020, seven workers were injured in when a parking garage collapsed at what is now Emory Hospital Midtown.

In February 2021, crews spent two days working to stabilize a crane at West Peachtree and 13th Street.

Return to Atlanta News First for the latest developments.

An investigation is underway after a crane collapsed in Midtown Atlanta.
Fire officials say some sort of crane incident caused a partial building collapse in Midtown...
Fire officials say some sort of crane incident caused a partial building collapse in Midtown Atlanta Monday.(WANF)