Crane collapses at Bryn Mawr CTA stop; Red, Purple, Brown train service back to normal

CHICAGO (WLS) -- A crane collapsed at the Bryn Mawr station in Edgewater Wednesday afternoon.

Pictures taken by residents show a large yellow piece of machinery that appears to have taken down power lines and damaged at least one car in the 1100-block of West Bryn Mawr shortly after 3:30 p.m.

The Chicago Fire Department said a 200-ton capacity drill head construction crane tipped over while it was being used. CTA officials clarified the crane fell off the tracks near Bryn Mawr onto street level, into an alley and is now in a precarious position.

An 18-unit residential building directly east of the station was evacuated. All residents got out safely and the private contractor is paying for them to stay in hotels until it is safe to return to their homes. They were allowed to return with escorts to gather some belongings.

"We were extremely lucky," said Carolyn Milliman, evacuated resident.

Milliman and Conor Sullivan said the wreckage crashed down no more than 20 feet from their home.

"We just heard a big boom. And then my computer screen went dark," Sullivan said.

ComEd is on scene, working to cut power to the utility pole as workers attempt to bring in to stabilize the crane so it can be disassembled and removed, CFD said. ComEd said 101 customers are without power in the area of West Bryn Mawr and North Winthrop.

"I'd like to know what happened," said Pat Carlson, evacuated resident. "You know, it did not look like the most stable platform."

There were delays along the Red, Purple and Brown lines due to the disruption but service has since been restored, including stops at Bryn Mawr station.

No injuries have been reported, according to the fire department, and one nearby business owner said he saw the operator crawl out of the crane uninjured. What caused the crane to tip is not currently known and under investigation by CTA.