By Craig Anderson

ELLENDALE — A 12-year-old girl suffered non-life-threatening injuries when a chicken house roof collapsed on Tuesday afternoon, authorities said.

Preliminary investigation determined that the collapse was caused by snow on the roof, according to Delaware State Police.

The girl was rescued after being pinned under the collapsed roof and EMS transported her to a local hospital in stable condition, DSP said. She was initially discovered by an adult man and 17-year-old boy who dug through debris.

The Ellendale Volunteer Fire Company’s run log showed a call was received at 3 p.m. for a structure collapse at 17027 Maple Branch Road in Ellendale. DSP responded to the scene at 3:05 p.m. to assist the fire company, Cpl. Pepper said.

DSP investigation determined that females ages 11, 12, 14, and 20 were working in the chicken houses on the property. They were in the same house as the males when the roof collapsed, authorities said. The 17-year-old boy “observed the food and water lines sagging. He began telling everyone inside to get out when the roof collapsed, Cpl. Pepper said.

The 11-year-old girl “was not trapped in the fallen debris but was also transported by EMS to a nearby hospital, where she was discharged after being medically cleared,” Cpl. Pepper said.

The Ellendale VFC declined comment and referred questions to the DSP.

While the DSP Troop 4 Criminal Investigations Unit was investigating the case, authorities pointed to the determination that snow on the roof caused it to collapse.