Two men die from carbon monoxide
BY NICK KATZ
STAFF WRITER
Two Lincolnwood men died early Monday of carbon monoxide poisoning after one of them left his car running in the attached garage of their condominium building.
Robert H. Goodrich, 78, and F. Thomas Bertsche, 73, who lived in separate units in the building at 6450 N. Cicero Ave., were found unconscious after Lincolnwood paramedics were called to the building about 4 a.m. by a man complaining of chest pains.
Police said paramedics discovered that the man who had called for assistance and his wife, as well as a second man on the first floor of the building, were suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning. Firefighters investigated further and found Goodrich and Bertsche, who lived on the south side of the two-story, four-unit building where paramedics found Bertsche's car running in the attached garage.
Police Chief Daniel Gooris said indications are that the deaths were accidental.
The building, he said, does not have carbon monoxide detectors.
The husband and wife who suffered from carbon monoxide poisoning where taken by Lincolnwood paramedics to St. Francis Hospital in Evanston. The other man was taken to Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge by Skokie paramedics.
Gooris said police have talked to Bertsche's family and there is no indication that he was trying to commit suicide by leaving the car running.
"It appears from talking to his family that he may have gotten distracted by something," Gooris said. He also said that Bertsche likely would have stayed in the car if he had intended to kill himself.
Gooris noted that Bertsche had started decorating a Christmas tree when he died.
"There is no indication he was depressed. He was in good health," Gooris said.
Gooris said Tuesday police still are trying to determine how long the car had been running when it was found. He said Bertsche usually went to church on Sunday and the car may have been running for several hours.
"The carbon monoxide levels were really high. It had been running a long time," he said. "It was just about out of gas when firefighters found it."
Gooris said the tragedy could have been even worse. He said Goodrich's son had been staying with him just prior to the incident.
In addition, he said, the call from the victim with chest pains may have saved the rest of the building's occupants.
He said both Bertsche and Goodrich had gotten out of bed, but apparently were unable to seek help or were unaware of what was happening.
"We're lucky the other people on the south end of the building had the presence to call for help," Gooris said. |
