Scaffold Collapse, Explosion Rock Midtown Apartment Building

ATLANTA, GA — Traffic in midtown Atlanta remained shut down Saturday morning, after a scaffolding collapsed, causing an explosion at a high-rise apartment building on Friday.

The collapse happened on a building at the corner of 14th and West Peachtree streets. Two window washers were on the scaffolding when it collapsed, but they were amazingly able to crawl to safety with the help of residents of the skyscraper.

Authorities say that safety harnesses the window washers were wearing probably saved their lives.

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According to Atlanta Fire and Rescue, part of the scaffolding hit power lines when it fell, causing an electrical explosion that set a car on fire. For several hours Friday afternoon, the scaffolding dangled dangerously from the building as emergency workers worked to secure it. (See photo, video of the effort below.)

It was finally removed some time after 8 p.m. on Friday.

As they worked, Atlanta Police shut down 14th Street and West Peachtree — a bustling intersection in the heart of Atlanta's Midtown neighborhood. All lanes remained closed at the intersection early Sunday, police said in a news release.

Photo courtesy Atlanta Fire and Rescue