A crane collapsed Friday at a construction site near a Kansas City Power & Light power plant, killing one worker and injuring three others, authorities said.

The victims were contract employees working on a new coal-fired plant at the site, utility spokesman Matt Tidwell said. About 300 contractors were on the site, Tidwell said.

The crane tipped over on its side and crumpled near the construction site around 7:30 a.m. KCPL said the crane was lowering its boom after determining wind speeds were too strong for safe operation when the accident occurred. The crane was not bearing any load at the time.

One victim was released from the hospital and the other two have non-life-threatening injuries, KCPL said.

The identities of the victims were not immediately released. Tidwell did not know what company employed the victims. French engineering company Alstom is the principal contractor on the project.

The Iatan power plant, about 30 miles northwest of Kansas City near the Missouri River, remained open, but the construction site was shut down.

Two workers were killed at the plant May 9, 2007, when a high-pressure water line ruptured. Two others also were burned when water in the pipe flashed to steam.