Authorities have enlisted the help of outside experts to determine the origin of carbon monoxide that is believed to have caused the death of a student and made two others sick at a college in Washington state.
A forensic engineering firm that specializes in carbon monoxide investigations has been called in to analyze the housing unit at The Evergreen State College in Olympia, according to Washington State Patrol spokesman Chris Loftis.
The student who died, identified as Jonathan Rodriguez from Dupont, Washington, will undergo an autopsy on Thursday, as confirmed by the Thurston County Coroner to CBS News.
Washington State Patrol will oversee the investigation, as stated in a statement to CBS News. Chief John R. Batiste of the Washington State Patrol assured the public that the agency is conducting a thorough investigation and will share its findings as soon as possible.
Tragedy Strikes Evergreen College Campus
An incident at Evergreen College has left one student dead and several others hospitalized. The college has confirmed that an Evergreen police officer performed emergency CPR after breaking down a door in response to a carbon monoxide alarm. The fire department also responded and conducted carbon monoxide testing.
The officer who broke down the door was hospitalized overnight, according to police Chief David Brunckhurst. Two students were also hospitalized, but their current conditions are unknown at this time.
Prior to the incident, an alarm company contracted by the college responded to carbon monoxide alarms on campus. It is unclear if the alarms were from the same housing unit where the student died.
Every residence on campus is equipped with a carbon monoxide detector, according to Evergreen spokesperson Farra Layne Hayes.
"This is a tragedy, and we grieve for our students and families," said Evergreen President John Carmichael. "The safety of our students, staff, and faculty remain our top priority."
Carbon monoxide is a dangerous gas that is produced by the burning of fuels. It is odorless and colorless, making it difficult to detect without proper monitoring.
