One person has been killed and two others seriously injured after a construction crane collapsed in Lower Manhattan.

Images from the scene showed the large crane had landed across several parked cars, crushing their roofs, in the TriBeCa neighbourhood of the city.

Debris from the accident littered the street and the impact also damaged the roof of a nearby building.

The crane, which collapsed at 8.24am, also landed across an intersection and covered much of a whole block.

The New York City Fire Department said two people were evaluated at the scene, but their conditions are not known.

Robert Harold, who works at the Legal Aid Society, said: "It was right outside my window. It was a crashing sound.

"You could feel the vibration in the building."

Mr Harold said at least one person was trapped inside a car.

More than 100 firefighters and emergency personnel have responded to the scene.

The New York Times reported that at least 15 people were injured in the accident.

Streets around the area have been closed off and emergency crews were searching the cars for anyone trapped, the newspaper added. Buildings have also been evacuated as officials check for structural damage.

Officials told the New York Daily News that firefighters are investigating a report that a wrecking ball attached to the crane snapped off and fell through the roof of a building.