Unique circumstances lead to carbon monoxide deaths
WAYNESBORO, Wednesday, Aug. 20 -- A Waynesboro man apparently forgot to turn off the car parked in the garage attached to his house, and carbon monoxide leaking into the house killed him and a man who had been sleeping in the basement.
Franklin County Coroner Jeffrey Conner concluded today that Stewart Dewease Jr., 49, and Keith Rohrer, 22, died accidentally Friday at 614 Park St.
Dewease was a brittle diabetic who suffered from frequent episodes of hypoglycemia which would cause him to forget what he had done, Conner said. When his shift ended at 1 a.m. Friday, co-workers said he had trouble clocking out. A co-worker concerned about his mental status followed him to make sure he arrived home safely.
Dewease left his car in the garage and forgot to turn it off, Conner said. Carbon monoxide entered the basement through a hole in the wall where a concrete block had been removed to allow for a sump pump to be used in the basement.
Firefighters found Rohrer in the basement where it appeared he had been sleeping, Conner said. He was found by a door, an indication that he had become disoriented as he tried to escape when he realized something was wrong. Carbon monoxide levels were much higher in the basement than other parts of the house at the time.
A family member found Dewease in a normal sleeping position in his bed, Conner said.
An experiment showed that the running car could only be heard faintly in the kitchen next to the garage, Conner said. |
