Two workers injured after church under construction collapses in Hagerstown

Two construction workers were seriously injured Tuesday afternoon after part of a church under construction in Hagerstown, Maryland, collapsed. Emergency crews were called to Hagerstown First Church of God at 1015 Rosehill Avenue at about 2:35 p.m.

Officials said the collapse happened while construction crews were setting wooden trusses. According to the Hagerstown Fire Department, workers heard cracking noises and began evacuating the structure before the trusses collapsed.

The two injured workers became trapped in debris but were able to partially free themselves before emergency crews reached them. Firefighters and rescue personnel removed them within about 15 minutes, and they were taken to a hospital. Authorities said their injuries were serious but were not believed to be life-threatening. A third person was evaluated at the scene but declined transport to a hospital.

Aerial footage showed a large pile of collapsed lumber and an exposed gap extending across the structure. Construction vehicles and equipment remained in the parking lot as crews assessed the building’s stability.

Several agencies, including fire, rescue, EMS, and law enforcement, responded to the incident. Hagerstown Deputy Fire Chief Adam Hopkins praised the coordination among emergency personnel across Washington County, saying crews worked quickly to stabilize the scene, reach the trapped workers, and bring the incident to a safe resolution.

The Maryland Occupational Safety and Health Administration responded to the scene and is investigating the cause of the collapse. Authorities also asked people to avoid the area and use alternate routes while emergency operations continued.