Crane moving hot tub topples over onto home in Hamilton Township, New Jersey
A crane attached to a truck toppled over onto a home in Mercer County, New Jersey, as it was moving a new hot tub into the backyard Tuesday afternoon, Hamilton Township police said.
The crane's arm collapsed as it was moving the hot tub into a backyard on Lea Drive in Hamilton Township, at around 12:30 p.m., police said.
"For some still unknown reason that will still be under investigation, the crane collapsed onto the roof of the house," Hamilton Township Mayor Jeff Martin said.
Images captured by Chopper 3 show the collapse caused structural damage to the home's roof.
Hamilton Township police, fire department and members of the Office of Emergency Management responded to investigate the incident. Township officials coordinated to bring in two additional cranes that safely removed the one that had collapsed onto the roof. Now, a structural expert is set to examine any remaining damage or issues inside the home.
Martin said the damaged part of the house will also be tarped up ahead of the inclement weather that's moving through the area Tuesday night.
Acting Fire Chief Steven Kraemer said no one was behind the wheel of the truck when the arm of the crane collapsed on the roof. But there were workers in the home's backyard who scattered once they realized the crane was going down.
Martin said given that no injuries were reported to the residents, workers, or any first responders, it "could've been a far worse situation than what we're facing right now."
Kraemer said they shut down and secured the solar, gas and electric power to the residence as a safety precaution.