Owner of Collapsed Building Owes $12K in Taxes: Officials

The owner of a building that collapsed and injured two people will be billed for the cleanup, according to city officials.

On Sunday around 8 p.m., a vacant two-story home collapsed on Limekiln Pike and Ogontz Avenue. Police say two people who were walking by the building were struck by debris as it caved in.

"The building just came down and there was smoke everywhere," said witness Mike Scott who helped one of the victims.

The victims were treated for minor injuries at Einstein Hospital and later released.

According to city records, Sabrina Rush, the owner of the property, owes $12,000 in taxes as well as a $6,000 lien on the property.

Tax records show Rush hasn't paid taxes on the building since 2008. She also received citations for a trash pileup in 2010, 2011, 2012 and most recently this year.

“People have been complaining about it for years and years,” said Mekeda Webb, who lives next to the property. “I’ve lived in the neighborhood my whole life. It’s always been there and it’s always been empty.”

The city cleaned and sealed the property earlier in February. Records show Rush never paid the city after they hired a contractor to clean up the site. City officials say Rush will be billed for the cleanup on the damaged property. NBC10 tried to track her down but we were unable to find her.

The city applied to place the property on the sheriff's sale list last October but the court has not yet responded.

Officials still have not yet determined the exact cause of the collapse.

"The middle of the building is sagging. It could have been from the weather or change in temperature," said Fire department Cpt. Clifford Gilliam. "I just don't know,"

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