By Erica Solvig and Sheila McLaughlin
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Officials and construction workers survey the damage at the construction site for the Fellowship of Praise Church of God in Warren County Friday afternoon. The Cincinnati Enquirer/GLENN HARTONG

WASHINGTON TWP. - A roof collapse at a church under construction sent four workers to area hospitals Friday.

Warren County building officials shut down the work site for the Fellowship of Praise Church of God at U.S. 22/Ohio 3 and Strout Road while they investigate the cause.

Chief Bob Wysong of the Clinton-Warren Joint Fire District said workers with subcontractor E.W. Construction of Waynesville were connecting trusses when the roof gave way, sending the four men to the ground about 2:50 p.m.

None of the injuries was considered life threatening, although one man was transported by helicopter to Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton, Wysong said. The others were taken by ambulance to Clinton Memorial Hospital in Wilmington. No names were available Friday.

"They were very fortunate they weren't killed," Wysong said.

The site was marked with yellow tape by evening, and firefighters turned the scene over to investigators from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Officials from E.W. Construction declined comment. Quality Homes is the general contractor on the project, Wysong said.

Church members gathered at the site, while their pastor, the Rev. Matt Morgan, left for the hospital to visit the injured workers.

Construction workers began framing the building in April, after the foundation was poured in late winter, church members said.

"It's devastating," said Wendell Gray, a member for six years who resides in Harveysburg. "We came from a little small church that had 30 or 40 people. (The building) was going to hold 500 people when we got it filled. It's a setback, but we will get it done."

The area of the building that collapsed was to serve as a temporary sanctuary while a main sanctuary was built in another phase of construction. It was then going to be turned into a gymnasium, they said. The dimensions and cost of the new building were not available.

The growing congregation of 200 members currently is meeting in a former furniture store on Main Street in Morrow after outgrowing another building two years ago.

E-mail esolvig@enquirer.com or smclaughlin@enquirer.com