HOUSTON -- A crane operator was crushed when the boom of his machine collapsed Thursday afternoon. The fatal accident happened at a construction site in northwest Harris County just before 6 p.m.

Investigators said the unidentified crane operator had just exited the cab of the crane to inspect the boom when it fell and killed him. The accident occurred at what appears to be the construction of a wastewater treatment plant in the 19700 block of Logan Briar.

The cause of the fatal accident is under investigation.