Man killed, woman seriously injured after second-story railing collapses in Somerset County
FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP, N.J. (Somerset County) — A man was killed and a woman was seriously injured after a railing on a second-story landing gave way at a Franklin Township residence, causing both individuals to fall to the ground, according to police.
The incident occurred Wednesday, Oct. 28, at approximately 9:41 p.m. at a residence on Marlowe Court, according to Franklin Township Public Safety Director Lloyd N. Fredericks. Police were dispatched to the residence following a report that two individuals had fallen over a railing.
A member of the department’s Emergency Services Unit arrived shortly afterward and began providing medical assistance. Emergency medical personnel from Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital EMS also responded and treated both victims.
The male victim was pronounced dead at the scene, while the female victim was transported to a local hospital for treatment of serious injuries, police said.
According to a preliminary investigation, the two adults were standing on a second-story landing when the railing gave way, causing both to fall to the ground. Police have not released the identities of the victims or provided additional information about the circumstances surrounding the railing’s collapse.
“This is a tragic incident, and our deepest sympathies go out to the family and loved ones of the individual who lost their life. We extend our thoughts and wishes for a full recovery to the individual who was seriously injured,” Fredericks said. “I want to thank our police officers and EMS personnel for their swift response and efforts to provide aid to both victims.”
The Franklin Township Police Department announced the incident in a news release Wednesday, Nov. 4. The investigation remains ongoing, and anyone with information is asked to contact the department at 732-873-5533.
