Worker killed in movie set accident

DOWNEY, Calif. (CNN) -- A welder working on the set of the upcoming movie "Spider-Man" was killed Tuesday when a crane crashed onto the construction basket holding him and another worker, authorities said.

The second worker escaped injury, said Robert Rowe, the deputy fire marshal for the Downey Fire Department. Downey is a Los Angeles suburb.

The accident happened around 9 a.m. when a crane hoisting a building facade suddenly toppled. A second crane was holding the two welders in the construction basket.

"The crane struck the basket holding the two welders and one of the welders was killed instantly," Rowe said.

Authorities have yet to release the man's name, pending notification of his family.

Susan Tick with Sony Pictures said the studio is "deeply saddened" by the death and expressed condolences to the man's family. She also said the studio will cooperate with any investigation.

No actors were on the set at the time of the accident. About 30 or 40 construction workers were at the site.

Rowe said it was rainy with "a little bit of a breeze" at the time of the accident and authorities are looking into reports of the facade shifting just before the crane toppled.

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