800-lb. Overhang Falls from Resident's Roof

One Cinnaminson resident is still left wondering how a overhang that was above his back sliding glass door, weighing nearly a ton, just fell one day recently.

“My daughter was home,” said Tom Von Kessel, “and she heard a big crash. The thing is on the ground.”

Von Kessel lives on Bergen Drive, in Cinnaminson’s Wellington West section off Branch Pike. In his neighborhood, he said there are several model homes like his. It’s called the Erlington and it was built in 1964.

Von Kessel said the 10’ by 2’ structure wasn’t rotted from rain damage or time. In fact, it looked as it did from day one, he said.

“With all these snow storms and rain, you would think it would have fell if it was damaged,” Von Kessel said. “Luckily, nobody was hurt. But it definitely would have killed a child or pet. Or maybe even an adult.”

Von Kessel said he’s even sees some overhangs that are in worse condition than his was.

So now, the homeowner needs to spend about $2,500 to get it fixed.

“It hit the ground so hard,” Von Kessel said, “all the paint chipped off. It was amazing.”

Von Kessel just wants to let his neighbors know this happened since he said it was such a surprise to him, it could happen to anyone.

“I’m a pretty quiet guy but I want my neighbors to know. I would hate to hear a kid got hurt or worse,” he said.

Lisa Passione, who works in the construction office at the , said they haven’t received any phone calls from homeowners regarding this or any other issue in that neighborhood.

If any neighbors have experienced this issue, email Editor Christina Paciolla at christina.paciolla@patch.com.