Lawsuit filed after Bucks County rehab center explosion kills 3, injures about 20

BRISTOL TWP., Pa. (WPVI) -- Nearly two weeks after a deadly gas explosion at the Bristol Health and Rehab Center, a Philadelphia law firm has filed the first lawsuit alleging "overwhelming negligence" by PECO and the facility's operators.

The blast killed three people and injured about 20 others, according to Bristol police. The victims included residents Patricia Mero, 66, and Ann Reddy, as well as 52-year-old nurse Muthoni Nduthu.

Family and friends of Muthoni Nduthu are at a loss for words after the nursing home nurse was killed in Tuesday's explosion in Bucks County.

"This was an explosion and an accident that should have never occurred," said Robert Mongeluzzi, founding and senior partner of Saltz Mongeluzzi Bendesky.

SEE ALSO | Woman injured in nursing home explosion faces long road to recovery

Mongeluzzi filed the lawsuit against PECO and its parent company, Exelon Corporation, as well as Bristol Health and Rehab Center and its owners, Saber Healthcare Holdings.

"Our clients have asked us to find out what happened and to hold those companies accountable," Mongeluzzi said.

An explosion and fire have been reported at a nursing home in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.

The firm represents an IT contractor and two health care aides who were having lunch in the break room.

"The building exploded, and the floor that they're sitting on gives way underneath them, and they collapse into the basement," said Attorney Aidan Carickhoff.

He also said the other client is a paraplegic resident who was in the dining room when the explosion occurred. She was struck by debris during the blast.

"The glass windows around her blow in, pieces of dry wall fly off the wall and hit her in the face, and a wheelchair flies across the room and hits her," Carickhoff said.

Chopper 6 was over the scene of the nursing home explosion in Bristol Twp., Bucks County

Mongeluzzi alleges PECO was aware of a gas leak and that none of the defendants acted to protect people inside the building despite reports of a gas odor.

"They (PECO) were on site. They failed to repair it, and they didn't evacuate the building, and it's a devastating effect," he said.

PECO, in a statement, said, "We are a party to the National Transportation Safety Board investigation. We are fully cooperating with the NTSB and according to the NTSB rules, we are not permitted to comment on this matter."

As the investigation continues, attorneys say their clients are grappling with long-term trauma.

"What's happened to them has left a scar on them that will be with them the rest of their lives," Carickhoff said.

Saber Healthcare Group has been contacted for comment.

The National Transportation Safety Board said crews completed on-site work Sunday and expect to release a preliminary report by the end of the month.