Four people were injured when explosion Ripped through Pennsylvania Nursing home Two weeks ago, it filed a lawsuit against the facility and the natural gas utility on Monday, claiming their negligence was to blame.
Two employees of Bristol Health & Rehab Center LLC, a resident of the suburban Philadelphia facility and a contractor who happened to be there when The explosion occurred On December 23, the lawsuit was filed. The defendants include PECO Energy, which supplied natural gas to the complex, parent company Exelon Corp., and Saber Healthcare Holdings LLC of Beachwood, Ohio.
The lawsuit filed in a Philadelphia court alleges that the defendants “were aware of the gas leak in the building and failed to take the necessary steps to evacuate the building, repair the leak, and protect residents, workers, and others who were exposed to the horrific explosion.”
Zach Shamberg, head of government affairs for Saber Healthcare Group, said in an email Monday that the company is cooperating with the ongoing investigation and does not comment on lawsuits.
The explosion killed a citizen and a worker and injured 20 others. Officials did not say why, but a PECO crew was there to investigate a reported gas leak.
The lawsuit alleges that the gas leak “had been worsening for days” and that the smell of gas came from the boiler room.
“Defendants’ decision not to immediately begin evacuation proceedings under these circumstances was reckless and outrageous given the number of residents within the building, many of the residents having limited mobility and unable to self-evacuate in the event of an emergency,” the lawsuit alleged.
Authorities said the utility crew was responding to reports of the smell of gas when the explosion occurred.
Phone and email messages seeking comment were left Monday for PECO’s communications director. The gas company previously said the cause was under investigation and it was not known whether PECO or natural gas equipment was involved.
Authorities reported heroic actions in response to the explosion. About 100 residents were transferred to other nearby nursing homes, officials said.
Among the people who died was Muthoni Nduthu, 52, a Kenyan immigrant who worked there. The other victim is a resident of the area and his name was not revealed.
The force of the explosion shook nearby homes in Bristol, about 20 miles (32 kilometers) northeast of Philadelphia.