Delaware State Police are investigating a roof collapse of a chicken house that resulted in injuries to a 12-year-old girl.
On Tuesday, at approximately 3:10 p.m., troopers were dispatched to the 17000 block of Maple Branch Rd.
The investigation determined that a 17-year-old male, a 12-year-old female, a 14-year-old female, an 11-year-old female, an adult female, and an adult male were working in chicken houses on the property.
When the individuals entered one of the chicken houses, the 17-year-old male saw that food and water lines were sagging and told everyone to get out as the roof collapsed.
All of the individuals inside escaped without injury except the two youngest victims. The 17-year-old male and the adult male dug through the debris when they located the 12-year-old female pinned under the collapsed roof. They were able to safely remove her from the collapsed chicken house, and emergency services took her to a nearby hospital in stable condition.
The 11-year-old female was not trapped in the fallen debris but was also transported to a nearby hospital, where she was evaluated and discharged
Preliminary findings indicate the roof collapse resulted from snow on the roof. The Ellendale area in Sussex County saw 14 inches or more of snow.
