Mercer County Home Collapses

A three story home on South Broad Street in Hamilton collapsed at 7.am. this morning, leaving one woman dead, and two injured. A 38-year-old mother was killed during the collapse and her two daughters were injured. The 16-year-old and 20-year-old daughters are listed in stable condition after being taken to Capital Health Medical Center in Trenton. The cause of the collapse is still unknown.

The 20-year-old woman had called dispatchers shortly after the collapse, which left her two family members stuck in the rubble. When the Hamilton Fire Department responded to the scene, they found the deceased victim on top of her 16-year-old daughter.

There is an ongoing investigation into the cause of the collapse, although it is not believed to have been caused by an explosion. "At this time we do not believe that to be the case, given that the house had a pancake-type collapse," adds Hamilton Fire Department Captain, Ferdi Mather.

Officials have said that they were called to the home 14 years ago when residents reported hearing a popping sound inside the home, but nothing indicated that there were any structural problems with the house.