Crane Topples Onto Louisiana Retirement Home

A construction crane toppled into the lobby of a Louisiana retirement home on Monday, but missed patients’ rooms and no residents were injured, officials said.

One employee was taken to the hospital to be checked for possible injuries as a precaution, a spokesman said.

“It was really fortunate. It didn’t hit any patient areas or rooms,” said Charlie Cavell, spokesman for Willis-Knighton Health System, which operates The Oaks in Shreveport.

The crane was brought to the site Monday to replace air conditioning units in the home of 112 residents but had not yet been hooked up, Cavell said.

“One of the outrigger supports fell and that toppled the crane. It was almost like someone taking a knife and cutting it. It went right down the middle of the common area,” he said.

Some patients in one wing were moved to other areas as a precaution but others were allowed to stay in their rooms.

Another crane was to be brought in to remove the toppled one.

The complex includes a nursing home with a health center, assisted living apartments and an independent living apartment complex.