Repairs to church under way after fatal accident

The day after a Chicago woman was struck on the head and killed almost instantly by a piece of falling stone, contractors began working Friday to make repairs to the historic South Loop church where the incident occurred.

Dark metal scaffolding was placed around Second Presbyterian Church on Friday morning, and construction workers appeared to be carefully inspecting the exterior of the building to make sure the brick wall and stone decorations were secure.

The scaffolding and wooden cover provided a protective walkway around the Gothic revival structure at 1936 S. Michigan Ave. Sarah Bean, 34, was walking to lunch with her fiance Thursday afternoon when a piece of decorative metal came loose. The metal piece fell and knocked off a chunk of stone from a gargoyle that juts from a corner of the church's southeast tower, city officials said.

The stone hit Bean on the head and killed her almost instantly. Her fiance, Lance Johnson, fell by her side, screaming and holding his hands to his head, said a man who lives across the street and witnessed the incident.

Officials from the church refused Friday to discuss the accident or give details about the repairs being made. The Rev. David Neff said the church's regularly scheduled Sunday worship will continue as usual this week. The church canceled its Friday afternoon brown bag lunch session, a sign posted outside said.

"We are mourning and send our condolences to the family," said Neff, the interim pastor.

Johnson could not be reached, and Bean's family declined to comment.

The church was built in 1874 and failed a string of inspections between 2007 and 2011 for violations that included failing to remove obstruction from building exits and failing to maintain an interior stairway system in safe condition, city records show.

The building passed inspections in 2012 and 2013.

lbowean@tribune.com

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Repairs to church under way after fatal accident