Porch Floor Collapses, Traps Victim Underground In Port Vue

PORT VUE (KDKA) -- One victim was trapped underground when a Port Vue home's porch collapsed Saturday afternoon.

A woman was on the front porch of her home on Romine Avenue when the floor collapsed into the underground room below. Family members were home at the time.

"I heard a loud bang, but I wasn't exactly sure what was going on," Rebecca Denney, the victim's niece, said.

Denney said she called 911, and her aunt was underground for about 10 or 15 minutes before emergency services arrived on the scene. She added that her aunt was conscious and talking when she was rescued, and she did not seem to suffer any major injuries.

The victim was sent to UPMC Mercy to be examined. No one else was injured.

Join The Conversation On The KDKA Facebook Page
Stay Up To Date, Follow KDKA On Twitter

Multiple fire crews responded to the scene. John Kerr, chief of Port Vue Vigilant Hose Company #1, said that gas lines run inside the house directly behind the porch, so gas service was turned off as a safety precaution.

According to Denney, the porch had years of water damage, which caused the collapse. She also said the room below the porch was unused.