Crane collapses at National Cathedral

WASHINGTON (AP) — A 500-foot crane collapsed Wednesday at the Washington National Cathedral amid thunderstorms, damaging two buildings and several vehicles.

No serious injuries were reported. Officials are still investigating what caused the crane to tip over.

A spokesman for the D.C. fire department, Oscar Mendez, said the crane flipped backward about 11 a.m. Wednesday. He said the crane damaged three to five cars and cathedral buildings.

WTOP-FM reported that the crane damaged Herb Cottage, which houses the cathedral's gift shop, and Church House, which houses members of the diocese.

However, the cathedral itself was spared.

"If it had gone any other direction it would have hit another building, which would have been bad," fire Battalion Chief John Donnelly said.

Richard Weinberg, a spokesman for the cathedral, told WRC-TV that the crane arrived this weekend to repair damage caused by the East Coast earthquake on Aug. 23. The quake damaged the cathedral's limestone exterior towers and some interior areas.

The cathedral was completed in 1990.