The huge structure has fallen across an entire block in Lower Manhattan, crushing several cars underneath it and smashing their roofs.

One eyewitness, who was waiting for a set of traffic lights when the crane came down in front of him, told the New York Daily News: "If I caught that light, I’d be dead probably."

The huge red crane, which has the words "Bay Crane" printed on the side also hit a building on its way down.

The crane fell onto the intersection at Worth Street, West Broadway and Church Street.

It remains unclear why the crane became detached and plummeted down to the street.

Surrounding streets have been closed while subway and bus links are being bypassed.

Firefighters are also investigating claims that a wrecking ball came off the crane and fell through the roof of a building, accordin to city officials.

Multiple amublances are also on the scene.

The crane is so long that another eyewitness, Blair Steele, 29, "couldn’t even see all the way to the other end."

“Everyone was in shock. Even the police that were here were totally shocked," she told the NY Daily News.

“I can’t believe it,” she added, “I remember looking up at it last night and said to myself, `this is a huge crane.’”

Bay Crane, a construction company, is refusing to comment and an employee said they would not be releasing any information at this stage, according to the newspaper.

A crane has collapsed in TriBeCa, New York Photo: @KVSaint/Twitter

The accident took place in the Tribeca district at around 8.30am.

A spokesman for the New York Fire Department said: "I can confirm there has been one DOA and two others in a serious condition."

There are reports tha more than 130 fire fighters at the scene, which is an intersection in the Lower Manhattan area.

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