> At a Glance
> – Patricia Mero, 66, has died from chest trauma following the Dec. 23 blast at Bristol Health & Rehab Center
> – Total deaths now stand at three, with 19 others hospitalized after the Pennsylvania explosion
> – Four injured victims have sued, claiming a gas leak was ignored
> – Why it matters: The lawsuit alleges companies knew of the leak but failed to evacuate or fix it, raising questions about corporate responsibility
A third fatality has been confirmed nearly two weeks after a devastating explosion tore through the Bristol Health & Rehab Center in Pennsylvania, while new court filings claim warning signs were missed.
Third Victim Identified
The Bucks County Coroner’s Office announced Tuesday that Patricia Mero, a 66-year-old resident of the facility, succumbed to chest trauma at St. Mary’s Medical Center. Her death has been ruled an accident, bringing the confirmed toll to three.
The two previous victims were:
- Muthoni Nduthu, 52, a nursing assistant
- Ann Reddy, a resident
Lawsuit Alleges Negligence
Four survivors-including two workers, a resident, and a contractor-have filed suit against:
- PECO Energy Company
- Exelon Corp. (PECO’s parent)
- Saber Healthcare Holdings LLC
The complaint claims the defendants “were aware” of a gas leak yet “failed to take the steps necessary to evacuate the building, fix the leak and protect” those inside.
Saber Healthcare Group chief of government affairs Zach Shamberg said the company is cooperating with a government investigation but declined to discuss the litigation.
PECO communications director Greg Smore stated the company cannot comment and noted the blast’s cause remains under investigation. PECO has previously said it is unclear whether its equipment or natural gas was involved.
Key Takeaways
- Death toll rises to three as Patricia Mero, 66, dies from chest trauma
- 19 people were hospitalized after the Dec. 23 explosion
- Lawsuit claims companies knew about gas leak before blast
- Investigation into cause continues; defendants have not responded publicly
As investigators work to determine the exact cause, the new lawsuit puts pressure on the named companies to explain what they knew-and when-before the fatal explosion.
