Arkansas Church Roof Collapse Injures Four
May 09--Four people, including the brother of Franklin County Sheriff Anthony Boen, received hospital treatment after the roof of a church under construction in the unincorporated community of Jethro collapsed Wednesday.
About 6:30 p.m., a construction crew was building a 4,800-square-foot addition to Jethro Pentecostal Church near Ozark when the trusses holding the roof collapsed, entangling four people in the wreckage, said Fred Mullen, Franklin County emergency manager. A construction worker assisted the four while emergency responders made their way to the scene.
Two were airlifted to Fort Smith for hospital treatment. One of those airlifted was Cody Jones, the younger brother of Sheriff Anthony Boen. Ambulances transported two construction workers for hospital treatment, one to Mercy Fort Smith and the other to Mercy Hospital Ozark, said Randy Boren, Franklin County EMS director.
Both of the workers transported via ambulance were treated for injuries that were not life-threatening, Boren said. He was unsure of the extent of the other two men's injuries.
Two more were treated at the scene for minor injuries, Mullen said, bringing the total number of injured to six.
A church member at the scene estimated the damage at $30,000, Mullen said.
Firefighters from Watalula, Barnes Mountain and Ozark arrived at the scene, along with Franklin County sheriff's deputies, EMS and emergency management personnel, among others, Mullen said.
"There were numerous neighbors and persons of good will who assisted," Mullen said.
No other injuries were reported, Mullen said.
Copyright 2013 - Times Record, Fort Smith, Ark.
