CASEY, Ill. (WCIA) — Two construction workers were seriously hurt when the unfinished wooden building frame they were working on collapsed Wednesday morning.
The collapse happened at Westside Church of Christ, which has been under renovation all summer long. Upgrades include a 4,500-square-foot addition to the building; the frame of the addition collapsed around 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday.
Church officials and witnesses said a six- to eight-person construction crew was working on the roof trusses when the structure came down. Two of the workers, Curt and Walker, fell 17 feet and were pinned under the fallen trusses.
Both were airlifted to Carle Hospital in Urbana with serious injuries, but the church’s representative could not provide word on their conditions.
“We sincerely thank the first responders and community members who rushed to help. Your quick action in securing the site and assisting with the rescue was invaluable,” the church said in a statement on Facebook. “To our community: We understand that news travels fast in a small town like ours. We request your prayers and positive thoughts for Curt, Walker, their families, and all those affected by this incident.”
Officials could not explain the reason for the collapse, but they did say a crane operator saw a vertical support on the back wall snap, causing a chain reaction. There was little the operator could do to stop the structure from coming down.
The church promised to provide updates while respecting the privacy of those involved.
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