Crane on Vessel Strikes Scaffolding on NYC Bridge A crane being carried on a vessel has struck scaffolding attached to the underside of New York City's Brooklyn Bridge. The Fire Department of New York says there are no reports of injuries in Tuesday night's accident. Officials say there doesn't appear to be any structural damage to the bridge, which crosses the East River and connects Manhattan and Brooklyn. About 20 feet of scaffolding on the underside of the bridge was damaged. The scaffolding was being used by workers to repaint the bridge, designated by the National Park Service as a National Historic Landmark.