You Might Want to Avoid the 405...

A huge bit of construction machinary fell onto the freeway in Sherman Oaks and now the 405 northbound will be closed until at least 4 p.m.

The crane toppled at about 1 p.m. at Valley Vista Boulevard, said Brian Humphrey of the Los Angeles Fire Department. The crane operator was freed about 2 p.m. and was airlifted to UCLA Medical Center in serious but stable condition, Humphrey said. His exact injuries were not immediately available.

"The paramedics were actually face-to-face with this man for more than an hour," Humphrey told KCAL9. "They described him as conscious, alert and in good spirits. He was very cooperative. And of course that's typically a great thing to hear, because if people are in good spirits it usually bodes well for their response and recovery to medical treatment."

Photo via Sigalert.com