Woman Who Jumped from Burning House in Palo Alto Has Died

The woman who jumped from the third floor of a burning house in Palo Alto Wednesday has died from her injuries.

Lehigh County Coroner Daniel Buglio pronounced Joanne M. Rodgers, 53, of Coburn, Centre County, dead at 1:38 p.m. on Thursday.

Buglio says Rodgers’ cause of death was multiple traumatic injuries due to a fall and ruled the death accidental.

Shortly after 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, Rodgers jumped from the third floor of a burning house at 507 W. Savory St., Palo Alto (outside Pottsville). She was rushed from the scene by ambulance to Lehigh Valley Hospital in Pottsville and then flown by medical helicopter to LVH-Cedar Crest.

A unidentified man inside the same building was rescued from a second-floor porch roof. A Palo Alto firefighter also sustained injuries during the incident.

The home from which Rodgers fell along with an adjoining, condemned property at 509 W. Savory St. were completely destroyed by fire. A neighboring property sustained minor damage.

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