500-Ton Crane Collapses at National Cathedral in Washington D.C.
- Posted on September 7, 2011 at 5:14pm by
Tiffany Gabbay
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WASHINGTON (The Blaze/AP) — A 500-ton crane doing repair work collapsed Wednesday at the Washington National Cathedral amid thunderstorms and driving rain, damaging at least one nearby building and several vehicles but sparing the church.
The collapse came just four days before a scheduled speech by President Barack Obama inside the cathedral to observe the tenth anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. The speech is the planned highlight of a three-day series of events scheduled to start Friday at the cathedral.
No decision had been made as of Wednesday afternoon about whether the commemoration, which also includes a memorial concert and interfaith vigil, would go on as planned, said Richard Weinberg, a spokesman for the cathedral.
The crane was working to repair damage to the cathedral caused by the Aug. 23 East Coast earthquake when it flipped backward around 11 a.m. Wednesday and tipped over into the parking lot. The crane damaged at least three cars and cathedral buildings. Fire officials said a crane operator was taken to a hospital for injuries that were not life-threatening.
Weinberg said the crane mishap damaged Herb Cottage, which houses the cathedral’s gift shop. The crane also fell near Church House, which houses members of the diocese, and poses a risk to the building. All 20 people inside the buildings when the crane collapsed were not hurt, Weinberg said.
The crane, which Weinberg said was around 350 feet, was brought to the cathedral to fix earthquake damage. The quake damaged the cathedral’s limestone exterior towers and some interior areas. The cathedral has been closed to visitors.
“If it had gone any other direction it would have hit another building, which would have been bad,” fire Battalion Chief John Donnelly said.
Engineers were investigating what caused the crane to tip over, and representatives from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration were on the scene. Fire officials cautioned that removing the crane from the cathedral grounds would be a cumbersome task.
The cathedral is one of the nation’s most recognizable places of worship, holding state funerals for several U.S. presidents and a memorial service for victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, among many other events.
Sheryl Wilcox, an event manager for the Episcopal Diocese of Washington, said she was in Church House when she was startled by a puzzling noise.
“I heard what it sounds like now — thunder — or I thought something had fallen out of the construction truck,” Wilcox said.
CBS provides additional footage:
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Comments (183)
tifosa
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 5:45pmA sign from God that Christie should run!!
Report Post »kickagrandma
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 5:51pm@tifosa~~~
A sign from GOD that HE IS getting ready to clean house!
Report Post »TXPilot
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 5:52pmThis story is just crying out for a “failed erection” reference……nope…not gonna go there…
Report Post »Bluebonnet
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 5:53pmLike your thinking
Report Post »let us prey
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 5:57pmTifosa
Report Post »A sign from god that obumbler does not belong in a church.
biohazard23
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 5:58pmWas the crane taking nitrates for chest pain and that caused a sudden drop in hydraulic (blood) pressure? Dang those little blue pills……
Report Post »zeban48
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 6:25pmIt is also a sign that says God is not happy about one of HIS house of worship allowing a Buddist nun or an Muslins Iman in HIS house while the church turns its back on HIS people who honor him and HIS son Jesus Christ. He is not please that HIS house of worship has become a political tool for the liberals of this world or the pagans of this world.
Report Post »tifosa
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 6:27pmThe night of the Teapublicon #ReaganDebate. The message appears to be that they’re all “truck-ups.”
Report Post »Kathleen
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 6:52pmI wonder if Obama will try to have all the Jesus statues covered. Wouldn’t want competition.
Report Post »Teaparty-grammy
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 7:16pm@ let us prey, who Posted: “Tifosa A sign from god that obumbler does not belong in a church.”
Nah–if God had been involved, he would have kept that baby standing until Obama was UNDER it being all pious for the TV cameras.
Report Post »voicecheck1
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 7:53pmThaddeus McCotter should be OUR President Christi already said he’s not ready ^ Thaddeus is Ready^^
Report Post »voicecheck1
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 7:54pmReady Running and Quite ABLE ^
Report Post »chris3
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 7:56pmknowing crane set up and design,wtf boys? your on solid concrete and blockpavers how can you do this? also most cranes have a warning system or outright auto-overide (dumbass blocker)
Report Post »right-wing-waco
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 8:46pmBush’s fault.
Report Post »dupaws
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 9:31pmThe one picture of the crane does look like a cross. And you have to admit some strange thing have been going on. Just maybe someone is trying to tell us something.
Report Post »13th Imam
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 10:24pmUnion Riggers at their best.
Report Post »I_CARRY_1_TOO
Posted on September 8, 2011 at 8:48am@ KICKAGRANDMA
I am with you!! Our good Lord is trying to warn us in many ways!
Report Post »Pastor Ray
Posted on September 8, 2011 at 6:03pmWhen PAGANS are invited into a so-called church and GOD [I Am THAT I Am] and Godly Americans are kept out what do you expect GOD would let happen? If you dabble in SIN it gets all over you! Wake up Obummer before GOD takes you out Psalm 109:7-14…
Report Post »Inlandmar2
Posted on September 8, 2011 at 9:23pmThey got it up….but couldn’t keep it up!……More Viagra needed?
Report Post »COFemale
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 5:44pmThose who do not believe God can’t recognize the blatant and sometimes the subtle messages he sends. This occurance does leave one to wonder blatant message or human error. One can only speculate.
I am glad that noone was hurt and I am sure Liberals will find some way to say it was Tea Party sabotage?
Report Post »Bluebonnet
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 5:57pmMy hope is that the crane operator isn’t a member of Tea Party or they will blame him. Hope it isn‘t the crane company’s fault, and triple hope the church isn’t damaged too much.
Report Post »Teaparty-grammy
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 7:19pmUm, no — don’t think they can pin this one on us, want to know why? See previous post above.
Report Post »Cat_Ion
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 8:19pmMore likely it was operated by Union people. Not saying it was deliberate or anything.
Report Post »But watch the other hand.
My Two Cents
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 5:44pmUsually the stock market takes a nosedive when Obama speaks. Now it is cranes?
Report Post »Exrepublisheep
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 6:20pmIts not a crane. Its a decepticon failure.
Report Post »The-Monk
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 5:42pmAnother Union job at it’s finest!
Report Post »Shrugged
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 6:14pmThey’ll do anything to get a little overtime.
Report Post »The-Monk
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 6:54pmThey also created more work for themselves.
Report Post »Rational Man
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 5:42pmDoesn’t look like a collapse to me. It tipped over. Somebody’s in deep do do for not following the load chart correctly, messed up placing the outriggers, bad footing or something. Operator error!
Report Post »loriann12
Posted on September 8, 2011 at 6:16amNaw, you can’t fire union people.
Report Post »paulusmaximus
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 5:36pmMmmmm,I only see one set of outriggers. Progressive idea of cut backs?
Report Post »Smokey_Bojangles
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 5:35pmGuess that settles it.God is mad at Obama.
Report Post »kickagrandma
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 5:52pm@smokey~~~ That’s the tip of the iceberg!
Report Post »RightUnite
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 5:33pmJust wait and see what happens when he tries to cross the threshold! The whole d*mn building is going to come down!! Or, we can always hope it happens….
Report Post »let us prey
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 5:58pmlol
Report Post »wisdomnlight
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 5:31pmNo church welcomes the anti-christ! Quite an omen, huh?
Report Post »Rational Man
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 5:44pmThis Episcopal church will.
Report Post »Shoot, they already have………………
Teaparty-grammy
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 7:28pmLord of the flies? Remember the flies landing on him right after his inauguration–happened a couple of times when he was on camera. I don’t recall seeing flies on a president before! And the rat that ran in front of the podium during a televised press conference, and the presidential seal falling off the podium while he was on camera–for the first time in history. Bet God thinks we’re pretty dense, if we don’t “get it” yet, huh? I doubt if he is the Anti-Christ, but think he could be the AC’s equivalent of John the Baptist–the one who comes before to prepare the way . . . One thing I DO know–he IS evil–he’s an evil little puppet who is doing his best to destroy this country and erase as many traces of its Judeo-Christian heritage as he possibly can, while glorifying Islam at every opportunity.
Report Post »conservative_teacher
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 5:31pmOh this is rich. Any bets on how many posts will imply that the reason for this happening is because no “Christians” were invited to the event? LOL! Let the “God Did It” posting begin. LOL!
Report Post »felix
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 5:46pmenjoy hell !
Report Post »grannyjojo
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 5:49pmEnough. Signs, signs are everywhere. One for God, 0 for Obumer. “Every knee will bow and every tongue confess”
Report Post »felix
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 5:49pmenjoy hell !!
Report Post »kickagrandma
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 5:53pm@conser~~~ Here’s mine!
Report Post »Teaparty-grammy
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 7:30pmWhat part of “God is not mocked” do you not understand? You won’t be nearly so cute or clever, or laughing so hard when you are crying for the rocks to hide you from the wrath of God at the Second Coming. Just sayin’ . . .
Report Post »Islesfordian
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 7:31pmGod did it, because He didn’t stop it. Of course God didn’t stop the Holocaust or 9/11 either, or the election of Obama.
So God did everything and everything is a sign..of…everything.
Let me know when there is a prophet who can legitimately interpret events.
Report Post »Darren
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 7:42pmTeacher;
I thought about posting this as God being purturbed that Evangelicals were not invited to the Episcipal gathering. But only sarcastically. I don’t think God cares that they were not invited.
Report Post »Dangerous Dave
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 5:31pmLean forward.
Report Post »James Barnhill
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 8:14pm+1.
Report Post »I had to laugh. :D
Puddle Duck
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 5:30pmThis is what happens when Obama’s ego outweighs the lifting power of the gear assigned to loft it on high for all to worship. I have to add that it’s highly likely Biden may have been given a bull horn and a hard hat for this particular post quake/irene “stimulus” job.
Kind of ironic that the “Herb Cottage” was the only casualty in this mishap. On a more serious note I would have tested the ground first since it’s highly likely that with all the rain of late the ground might have been unstable for such a load.
Report Post »WhiteFang
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 5:30pmThe crane operator is looking for a job.
Report Post »My Two Cents
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 5:41pmI didn’t think union slugs got fired.
Report Post »hifi74
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 5:48pmMy two cents,
Correct!! He just got a promotion.
Report Post »RA0725
Posted on September 8, 2011 at 1:28amSupervisor in training.
Report Post »metalurgy
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 5:30pmGravity is a beyotch.
Physics bitchez…
Report Post »romadave
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 5:27pmLooking at the pictures it’s obvious… it was just over tired.
Report Post »GO-FOR-LIBERTY
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 7:37pmDidn’t they make a movie about these things that “transform” into something not so nice. God does have a sence of humor.
Report Post »dd41
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 5:26pmYou bet it‘s Bush’s fault.
Report Post »ddg7
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 5:26pmJust look for the union label
Report Post »danenut6
Posted on September 8, 2011 at 9:22amyep my thought exactly. . .
Report Post »mickie4
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 5:26pmThis is unbelievable. I am speechless. You know what I think happened! After all, no Christians were invited to speak at this dedication. But they had several other faiths included…..but NO Christians!
Report Post »mickie4
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 5:39pmmy bad…..its Protestants that have been excluded from the commemoration.. That’s pretty bad!
Report Post »Islesfordian
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 5:48pmUm, how do they exclude Protestants when the cathedral is actually a Protestant church? The bishop of Washington and the Dean of the Cathedral are always there for large events.
Are you thinking of some other service held elsewhere, like NYC?
Report Post »mickie4
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 5:58pmHere’s who was invited: a Rabbi, an Episcopal bishop, Buddist nun, Hindu priest, Imam, Lama and 2 Muslims ( one a musician),
Report Post »No Catholics, Baptists or Pentelostals.
That all I have read.
Islesfordian
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 7:28pmTo be fair to them, they are clearly going for representatives of the basic faiths without trying to represent every relevant division within that faith. Was a Sunni AND a Shiite invited? Will there be an Orthodox, Reformed and Conservative Rabbi? They are not inviting other Christian bodies because they feel that Christianity is already represented by the Episcopal bishop. I disagree, but I can‘t really expect them to accept my belief that the Episcopal bishop of Wsahington isn’t really Christian.
This is just another stupid liberal interfaith service. Evangelicals should be glad they weren’t invited. It’s going to be crap.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on September 8, 2011 at 8:53amIt’s Evangelicals that have been excluded. You know… the people who actually believe the Bible, otherwise known as extremists by the press and present administration.
Report Post »romadave
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 5:25pmIt was just raising up to salute the annointed one.
If this condition lasts for more than 4 hours, they’re going to have to call a PHD.
Report Post »BOMUSTGO
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 5:24pmIt’s an oman!
Report Post »Bluebonnet
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 6:04pmBet Obama say‘s it’s Bush’s fault.
Report Post »biohazard23
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 5:23pmMust be Bush’s fault somehow.
Report Post »pscully17
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 5:27pmsigns signs everywhere are signs…… Obama is not welcome in that church…
Report Post »biohazard23
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 5:33pmI know, and I’m giggling at the thought! Childish? Sure! But it does bring a small sense of pleasure knowing the the one true God is not pleased with the One trying to take His job. ;)
Report Post »Patrick Henry II
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 5:22pmIt must have happened when Obama was having the Crosses covered before the “memorial”.
Report Post »Blackhawk1
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 5:21pmDang, missed by 4 lousy days!
Report Post »Teaparty-grammy
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 7:34pmYeah, that’s what I said, too. That‘s why I’m sure God was not really involved–his timing is better than that!
Report Post »SpankDaMonkey
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 5:20pm.
Report Post »The Good Lord is not happy with you………….
antrancher
Posted on September 8, 2011 at 1:11amThey should cancel the entire event. Muslims indeed!!! Too bad it didn’t happen when it was full of those idiots!
Report Post »Thatsitivehadenough
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 5:18pmOMG! First the earthquake, now this? Hmmmmm……
Report Post »Rugnuts
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 5:22pmoutriggers look like a cross. which is unfair to the atheists.
Report Post »doesnt matter that this is on church property.
Servant Of YHVH
Posted on September 7, 2011 at 5:24pmExactly Thatsitivehadenough!
Perhaps God was giving another warning against obama using a church to promote and glorify the muslim terrorists that did that horrible thing on 911. Or maybe God just doesn’t want a muslim in that church since not only would there be muslims sitting in pews, there would be a muslim at the podium speaking. I just pray that God will not allow that to happen at all anymore.
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