WASHINGTON — 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 four days before a scheduled speech by President Barack Obama inside the cathedral to observe the 10th 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 being used to repair damage to the cathedral caused by the Aug. 23 East Coast earthquake.
The Associated Press
