Like a 'scene in a movie': Hooks fans shaken by Harbor Bridge crane fire, falling debris

Editor's note: This story was changed after its initial publication to include a Monday afternoon statement from the Corpus Christi Hooks.

For Jared Melrose, missing Saturday's Corpus Christi Hooks game was out of the question.

Although he was not among the first 2,000 attendees at Whataburger Field, meaning he missed the window for a free replica of Houston Astros player Yordan Alvarez's jersey, the 22-year-old Corpus Christi resident got the chance to be pictured with the Astros' World Series championship trophy — a rare opportunity that drew thousands to the ballpark.

"We got there around 5:30, and the line was already down the block on both ends," Melrose said. More than 6,600 people flocked to the bayside ballpark for the game, which had a 7:05 p.m. start time. "Pretty crazy sight."

But the game took a grim turn around its second inning. From his seat behind first base, Melrose, along with thousands of Hooks fans, watched as part of a nearby 450-foot tower crane — located next to the ballpark and used for construction of the new Harbor Bridge's south pylon — caught on fire.

Before the fire came a "loud pop," which Melrose mistook for a stadium sound effect at first, followed by a "very loud buzzing noise" from the crane, he said. The troubling series of noises ended with a loud bang, the result of a part of the crane falling to the ground, he said.

Many questions remain about the events leading up to the fire. One woman, who a city fire official said was struck by falling debris from the crane, was hospitalized. Two workers on the crane were uninjured, a spokesperson for the bridge developer, Flatiron/Dragados, said.

Photos: Hooks fans gather for photos with Astros World Series trophy

With the tower crane positioned behind her, Belinda Rojas was sitting behind left field in a section adjacent to where the injured woman was. When the loud bang rang out, the Robstown resident said the impact caused spectators to run for cover, sparking pandemonium in the stands.

"The children were yelling, (and) everyone panicked but managed to escape in a matter of what seemed like seconds," Rojas, 29, said. "It was definitely a scene in a movie. I felt like I couldn’t believe it was happening, but everyone running around me made me realize it was real."

Alissa Gonzalez and her daughter, Maya, 9, said they heard "a big sound, like an airplane flew over the stadium." After Maya saw the two workers fleeing the fire on the crane, they later moved to a stairwell to get a better look.

Melrose and Rojas said the game's announcers did not remark on the incident. Melrose said the impact occurred around the same time as a pitcher change, so it was unclear whether the short pause in the game was to allow time to switch players or a result of the incident with the crane.

Hooks spokesperson Michael Coffin, in a statement to the Caller-Times Monday afternoon, thanked the Port of Corpus Christi Police Department for its response to the incident. He said the Astros-affiliated organization would continue "working with the authorities to support their efforts as they ensure proper safety measures are in place for properties surrounding our ballpark."

"We remain committed to ensuring our fans continue to enjoy our games safely," Coffin said in the written statement.

The fire is the latest blow to the troubled, nearly $1 billion Harbor Bridge project.

Last summer, the Texas Department of Transportation halted construction on the bridge's main span due to concerns with the bridge's proposed design, including the possibility of collapse under certain conditions. Earlier this month, TxDOT and Flatiron/Dragados reached an agreement on how to resolve the last of five design disputes.

The new cable-stayed bridge, which officials have said will be the tallest structure in South Texas once complete, will replace the aging 1950s-era Harbor Bridge currently spanning the Corpus Christi Ship Channel. Officials have said the new bridge will open to traffic in the first half of 2025 — five years after its original completion date.

Whether the Saturday tower crane fire will cause delays remains to be seen.

Staff photographer Angela Piazza contributed to reporting for this article.

This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Corpus Christi Hooks fans shaken by tower crane fire, falling debris