MERRITT ISLAND — Two people died Wednesday after a giant crane collapsed at the construction site for a new hospital in Merritt Island, officials said.

The collapse occurred at the site of the new Cape Canaveral Hospital, 60 miles east of Orlando.

Two people were transported to a hospital, where they died, Brevard County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Tod Goodyear said. Officials didn’t immediately identify the victims.

The area had been hit by rain and strong winds Wednesday afternoon, but the cause of the collapse was under investigation.

The Cape Canaveral Hospital began construction last year and is expected to open to the public in 2027. It will replace the existing Cape Canaveral Hospital in nearby Cocoa Beach. Originally Published: June 4, 2025 at 6:11 PM EDT

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