Drilling rig collapses onto vehicles in Miami, leaving four injured

Four people suffered minor injuries after a drilling rig collapsed onto vehicles and sparked a fire in Miami on Monday, prompting a complex rescue operation.

(CNN)- Four people suffered minor injuries after a drilling rig collapsed onto vehicles and sparked a fire in Miami on Monday, prompting a complex rescue operation.

The piling rig, a piece of heavy equipment used to drill deep into the ground, came crashing down onto three vehicles. The collapse sparked a fire and also damaged a construction box, trapping two workers inside.

“It was a very complex scene with a fire that was occurring,” Miami Fire-Rescue Chief Robert Hevia said.

Firefighters battled the flames while a technical rescue team simultaneously cut through the construction box to reach the trapped workers.

Crews successfully freed both workers, who were taken to a local trauma center with minor injuries.

A third worker, the rig operator, was also hospitalized with minor injuries. Officials said he jumped from the rig when it began to collapse.

Another victim narrowly escaped more serious injuries after seeing the rig falling toward her white BMW.

Hevia said the driver was able to reverse just far enough to get out of the vehicle before the rig landed on it.

The BMW caught fire after the impact, with one witness reporting flames shooting about 30 feet into the air.

The driver was also hospitalized with minor injuries.