Area Hospitals Treat Building Collapse Victims
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – Three area hospitals treated at least 14 people injured in a building collapse in Center City Philadelphia Wednesday morning.
Six people were killed in the collapse.
Five victims were taken to Thomas Jefferson University Hospital. A hospital spokesperson said all five victims suffered non-life threatening injuries.
Four patients were discharged, and one person remains at the trauma center Wednesday night.
One victim who left just after 3 p.m. was identified by family members as 54-year-old Nadine White from South Philadelphia. A family member says she is a worker at the Salvation Army and arrived today at 9:45 a.m., shortly before the collapse.
We are told by a family member she was pulled from the rubble by a co-worker.
A woman who identified herself as Nadine's sister spoke briefly as they were leaving saying, "she is still in a state of shock."
Sasha Agosto sheds tears of relief after learning her mother - the thrift store's manager - was found alive after the building collapse at Market Street.
Margarita Agosto didn't want to talk on camera, but she is seen being released from the hospital wearing a neck brace.
"I'm just really happy she came out okay," said Sasha.
Five victims were taken to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania shortly after the collapse.
Two of the patients have been discharged. Three patients remain at the hospital overnight.
Dr. Elizabeth Datner and Dr. Patrick Kim gave an update on the victims' conditions Wednesday afternoon.
"They were a bit stunned. They were saying they heard a loud noise and then the ceiling start falling," said Dr. Datner. "We saw a lot of lacerations, contusions, and abrasions."
"Fortunately the patients we treated today seem to have fairly minor injuries. We might expect the physical injuries to heal up pretty nicely," said Dr. Kim.
A sixth victim was rushed to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania after she was pulled alive from the rubble 13 hours later. Sources identify the victim as 61-year-old Myra Plekam, of Kensington. Her condition is unknown at this time.
Three people, including two women, were taken to Hahnemann University Hospital.
Two patients were treated and released. A third patient is listed in fair condition.
Officials have not released the identities of the people who died in the building collapse, but the thrift store manager's daughter says one of the victims who died was a woman working at the store - on her first day of the job.
"I hear that she just started today at the store," said Sasha.
Stay with CBSPhilly.com for the latest information on this developing story...
