PARAMUS, N.J. — A crane toppled onto its side at the Westfield Garden State Plaza on Monday morning, injuring the operator at a major construction project on the mall property.

The incident happened around 9 a.m. at the Modera at Garden State Plaza construction site, where the operator was performing monthly maintenance on the crane, Paramus Police Chief Robert Guidetti told reporters.

“The crane’s boom was elevated when the equipment tipped over,” Guidetti said.

The all-terrain crane fell onto its left side. The 42-year-old operator from Cinnaminson managed to climb out of the cab and was taken by ambulance to Hackensack University Medical Center with moderate injuries.

A minor fuel spill was handled by workers using absorbent materials.

The construction company contacted the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration, which enforces workplace safety standards.

The site is part of a 13-acre redevelopment of the Garden State Plaza property by Mill Creek Residential. The project broke ground in April and calls for 575 luxury apartments in two five-story buildings, along with 50,000 square feet of retail space and restaurants.

The cause of the crane's collapse was not immediately clear.