Worker killed, 2 more injured when brick facade collapses on SW Side

CHICAGO (Sun-Times Media Wire) -

One construction worker was killed and two others were injured Saturday afternoon when a brick facade collapsed from the front of a West Lawn building.

About 1 p.m. the facade fell from the first story of a commercial building in the 4100 block of West 63rd Street, Fire Media Affairs spokesman Will Knight said.

Roberto Topia-Gonzalez, 44, of the 2500 block of South Homan Avenue, was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where he was pronounced dead at 1:41 p.m., according to police and the Cook County medical examiner's office.

An autopsy performed Sunday found Topia-Gonzalez died of multiple injuries he suffered when he was crushed by a falling brick wall, the medical examiner's office said. His death was ruled an accident.

Another worker, a 30-year-old man, was also taken in serious-to-critical condition to Christ Medical Center, while a third construction worker, a 44-year-old man, was taken to Holy Cross Hospital in fair-to-serious condition, authorities said. A 41-year-old man denied medical treatment, police said.

Mimi Simon, a spokeswoman with the city's Department of Buildings, said the work at the site was being performed by unlicensed contractors without building permits.

The building owner has been instructed to abate the dangerous and hazardous conditions, remove debris and erect a heavy duty canopy for public safety, Simon said in a statement.

The building's owner will be issued several violations upon the completion of a full inspection, Simon said.

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Worker killed, 2 more injured when brick facade collapses on SW Side