LAKE MARY, Fla. --
Crews are trying to figure out the safest way to move a 70-foot tall crane that collapsed onto a Seminole county building, Monday.
The crane tipped over onto a building at the corner of Country Club Boulevard and Crystal Lake Avenue in Lake Mary.
Police are also searching for the crane's operator who took off after the incident.
No one was inside the building, which houses several businesses.
Rick Teeter saw the crane topple over around 5:00 p.m, Monday evening.
"We were all in disbelief that this would happen," said Teeter.
The company who owns the 30-ton crane is Sun State Trees.
The crane operator was trying to remove a large tree when something went wrong.
"There was a huge boom, like a sonic boom sound... and big claps of lightning hit at the same time," said eyewitness Debbie Clark.
Fire Chief Toby Palmer says weather was not a contributing factor.
"Basically they were having the tree service remove the tree stump and something twisted and lost control of it and caused the crane to topple. The tree was too heavy for the crane and the rear of the crane lifted up in the air and basically in slow motion it went completely over and the tree hit the ground" said Palmer.
Part of the tree went crashing into the building, and a few yards of the crane slammed into the 2nd floor of the building where Life Point Church rents space.
Firefighters say it was lucky no one was inside at the time. There are several shops in the building including a florist, an antiques shop and a flooring company.
Seconds after the crash, the operator disappeared.
"As far as we know, they fled the scene. We're getting different reports they've driven themselves to a hospital but that's unconfirmed," said Palmer.
So far, the operator isn't facing any charges, but police want to find him.
More than four tow trucks had to be called in to right the crane.
Crews say the building will be closed Tuesday, but won't be condemned.
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