A construction crane toppled onto a New York City street this morning, killing at least one person after ripping open the side of a 23-story apartment building.

At least 100 firefighters and rescue personnel were sifting through the debris for possible victims. Another person was seen being carried from the site alive.

"It was like a big crash coming down. A big noise. A lot of debris crashing hitting, coming down," construction worker Vincent Rosado told WABC-TV in New York.

he crane collapsed around 8 a.m. at East 91st Street and First Avenue, crashing more than a dozen stories to the ground, swiping a high-rise apartment and leaving a twisted pile of crane and apartment wreckage.

A second construction worker was reportedly injured in the collapse. The person's condition is unclear.