A crane capsized on Lewisville Lake on Tuesday afternoon, sending a construction worker into the water.
Work on the bridge had stopped because of the weather, but workers returned after a report of a barge listing. Authorities said the barge on which the crane stood apparently broke from its moorings, ran aground and tilted, sending the crane into the water.
"It was determined that the safety of the crew was more important and to just let the barge with the crane sink and, at the same time, however, one of the crew members fell into the water," said Susan Slupecki, a North Texas Tollway Authority spokeswoman.
The construction worker who fell into the water was trying to secure the barge holding the crane when he fell in. He grabbed onto debris until co-workers tossed him a life preserver.
The man was pulled to safety. He was not injured.
The crane was helping in the construction of a new toll bridge across the lake northwest of Dallas.
