A third person has died following a December 23 explosion at Bristol Health and Rehab Center in Bristol Township, PA, with survivors filing a lawsuit alleging negligence
Third Death Confirmed After Bristol Health and Rehab Center Explosion
BRISTOL TWP., Pa. (WPVI) — A 66-year-old woman from Levittown has become the third person to die following the explosion and fire at the Bristol Health and Rehab Center on December 23, according to sources familiar with the investigation.
Sources tell Action News that Patricia Ann Mero was admitted to St. Mary Medical Center on the day of the blast with blunt force trauma to the chest. Her official cause of death has not yet been confirmed.
Previously, officials had identified two fatalities connected to the explosion: resident Ann Reddy and 52-year-old nurse Muthoni Nduthu.
Preliminary findings suggest a natural gas leak caused the blast. A multiagency investigation led by the National Transportation Safety Board is still working to determine the official cause. Approximately 20 people were also injured.
The first lawsuit related to the incident has now been filed. Four survivors are suing the facility’s previous and current owners. Their attorneys describe the incident as the result of “overwhelming negligence” before the explosion. They also state that the tragedy was both foreseeable and preventable.
NTSB officials continue to release updates on their investigation, but the cause of the blast has not yet been confirmed.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Date of Incident | December 23 |
| Victim | Patricia Ann Mero |
| Age of Victim | 66 |
| Other Fatalities | Ann Reddy, Muthoni Nduthu (52) |
| Injuries Reported | Approximately 20 |
| Lawsuit Filed By | Four survivors |
| Investigation Led By | National Transportation Safety Board |
