Spokane Mayor David Condon and Spokane Public Library Director Andrew Chanse are releasing the following statement after a fatal accident involving a contractor working on the outside of the Downtown Library today:

“We send our deepest condolences to the friends and family of the individual who passed away at the Downtown Library today. We are saddened by what appears to be a tragic accident.”

The Downtown Library Branch will be closed for the rest of the day as police continue their investigation. The library had been scheduled to remain open until 8 p.m. The Friends of the Library book sale will be available on the first floor.