Construction Crane Collapses and Falls into Sinkhole at Crosstown LRT Site
Ainsley Smith
No serious injuries were reported after a construction crane collapsed and fell into a sinkhole at a Crosstown LRT construction site Monday evening.
Toronto Police said the incident occurred at Eglinton Avenue East and Mount Pleasant Road and officers responded to the scene after receiving reports that a construction crane had collapsed in the area around 6 pm.
Drivers were advised to expect delays and to consider taking alternative routes.
— Lucas Ramsay (@lpramsay) November 23, 2020
READ: Toronto Continues to Have Most Cranes of Any City in Canada or US
Toronto Fire technical officers also responded to the scene and a larger crane was brought in to hoist the smaller crane out of the sinkhole with work to remove the crane continuing on Tuesday morning.
Update:they are slowly starting to haul crane out of hole: pic.twitter.com/qZTUvOf9fK
— carl hanstke (@carl680) November 24, 2020
Fire Chief Matthew Pegg said the Ministry of Labour will be investigating the incident as well.
@Toronto_Fire Technical Operations crews on scene at Mt Pleasant and Eglinton for a construction crane collapse alongside @TorontoPolice @TorontoMedics. Fortunately, no serious injuries have been reported. Ministry of Labour to investigate. pic.twitter.com/ovotJkrT74
— Matthew Pegg (@ChiefPeggTFS) November 24, 2020
The crane had been sitting on a concrete pad for the past eight months at the site where the underground Mount Pleasant LRT station is being built, but the ground gave way underneath it, according to CBC News.
This is the third time a crane has collapsed in the city in the last few months. On July 16, multiple buildings in the downtown core were evacuated when a crane hit a building at Simcoe and Wellington. That crane was believed to be from the site at 145 Wellington, where a 52-storey mixed-use building that includes a 13-storey tower and 476 new purpose-built rental units is proposed.
Then, on August 6, roads were forced to close near Dundas Street East and River Street after a crane fell into the intersection.
Ainsley Smith
When Ainsley's not writing about real estate, local developments, and beautiful homes she wished she lived in, you can usually find her exploring Toronto, cooking, doing at-home workouts, or hanging with her cat, Jerry Seinfeld.
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