Scaffolding collapse leaves worker dangling high above midtown

ATLANTA — A worker was rescued from dangling scaffolding Friday evening in Midtown Atlanta.

Witnesses told Channel 2 Action News they heard some sort of loud noise and then saw a heavy police presence in the area of 14th Street and West Peachtree Street.

Authorities said a portion of a window-washing platform collapsed and hit large power lines, causing an electrical explosion and vehicle fire.

Video from NewsChopper 2 showed some sort of scaffolding dangling sideways on the side of the Icon Midtown Apartments.

The worker was safely rescued.

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Those watching from below told Channel 2's Lauren Pozen they couldn't believe what they were seeing.

"I saw that scaffolding snap. the man working on that scaffolding was hanging and luckily he had his safety harness and I am looking at him swinging back and forth," witness Liz Brown said.

The only thing keeping the man from falling to the ground was his safety harness.

"One was able to put his feet on the railing below him, one got up on one balcony," witness Ann Allison said. 

"The embers of the fire kind of cracked my front end, my back windshield and there’s some burn marks on the back, some indentations,” he said, not identifying himself.

Shortly after 8 p.m., fire crews were able to pull the platform up from the side of the building.

The incident impacted traffic along West Peachtree and 14th Streets for several hours.

Cox Media Group