Woman who burned in Bucks died of head trauma

    Advocate for the homeless hopes the woman’s death will bring about better efforts to reach out to those on the fringes of society.

    By Meggan Kole

    Details surrounding the fiery death of a homeless Bristol Township woman are still under investigation. The woman was seen Sunday morning on fire in a wooded area near Bristol Plaza. She was treated at Lower Bucks Hospital but died of her injuries.

    An autopsy report says the main cause of death was head trauma. The Bristol fire marshal says the blaze was arson.

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    Bill Burns with Lower Bucks County Red Cross Homeless Shelter Services knows the area. He says about six people live there.

    “Like a lot of people that are living out in the woods, they have a difficult time trusting the social service system and others because it hasn’t been a very effective way for them to get help in the past,” said Burns. “And I think they was probably the case with this woman.”

    While authorities have identified the woman, they have not yet been in contact with her family. She was one of about 475 people without homes in Bucks County.

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