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<b> <i> Click to see new picture!</b></i><BR>Crane collapse at Greenville hospital

By Bill Oliver

Greenville, TX –

A crane collapse at Presbyterian Hospital of Greenville Monday afternoon injured a hospital employee and a construction worker and caused mostly cosmetic damage to the new west wing that is under construction. Neither injury was believed to be life threatening.

A news release from the hospital stated the 260 foot crane was being operated by an employee of Lewis Crane Co., a sub-contractor on the project. It had just deposited a payload when it buckled and collapsed. On its way down, the crane caused damage to the roof above the eighth floor and the facade of the existing bed tower. The 60-foot jib section of the crane arm dangled by steel cables from the 8th-floor roof.

The news release stated a hospital employee was injured when debris from the collapse penetrated the ceiling of his 8th floor office. That person was taken to the emergency room for treatment and observation. The names of those injured and the circumstances of how the construction worker was hurt were not released.

Hospital Administrator Mike Klepin led hospital employees in securing damaged areas of the hospital and relocating patients on the medical floors to rooms not in proximity the impact area.

Officials have not announced when construction will resume on the $29 million dollar, four story west wing addition, or how long it will take for damaged areas in the existing complex to be repaired.