OLYMPIA, Wash. — One Evergreen State College student is dead and two others are in the hospital after being found with “symptoms consistent with carbon monoxide poisoning” inside a student housing unit.
A spokesperson from The Evergreen State College confirmed to KING 5 that a student resident manager called campus police after the students could not be contacted on Monday night.
A college police officer attempted to perform emergency CPR after breaking down the door to the unit around 8:30 p.m. Monday. Two students inside were taken to the hospital. No additional information was immediately available on their conditions.
The officer who found the students was also hospitalized but was released Tuesday morning, per Evergreen Police Chief David Brunckhurst.
The Thurston County Coroner identified the student who died as 21-year-old Jonathan Rodriguez of Dupont.
The McLane Black Lake Fire Department responded to the scene and conducted carbon monoxide testing in the impacted areas.
The release said earlier in the day Monday, campus officials claim a contractor working in an area of housing called the Modular Apartments "responded to carbon monoxide alarms."
“This is a tragedy, and we grieve for our students and families,” said Evergreen President John Carmichael in the release. “The safety of students, staff and faculty remain Evergreen’s top priority.”
Student Jacob Benjamin lives in a modular home next door. He said he watched paramedics remove one of the students who was unconscious.
"It was a lot. I didn’t know them personally, but I didn’t have to,” said Benjamin, fighting back tears.
Dr. Sarah Kaiser with the Washington Poison Center said what happened at Evergreen State is a tragic reminder of carbon monoxide's danger.
"It's really odorless, colorless, and tasteless," Dr. Kaiser said. "The best way to know if this is a concern in your house is to have a detector available."
Dr. Kaiser said CO poisoning often happens in winter because the initial symptoms seem like a virus: headache, nausea, kind of feeling off.
"You may just think you have a run of the mill virus. especially, too, if other people in your house are having symptoms. You think you're all sharing something," she said.
Kaiser also said people turning on furnaces for the first time in months, which could be clogged up, can lead to CO leaking into your home.
"Your best bet is to have a CO detector in your home, preferably more than one," she said.
Dr. Beth Ebel, a doctor at Harborview, echoed Dr. Kaiser's advice. She also touched on the added layer of where the incident occurred: a college campus.
"My heartfelt condolences to the family. Everyone deserves to have their kids come home safely," Ebel said. "This is actually worth a call to your child to make sure the detectors work."
A college spokesperson said every living unit on campus has smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.
Washington State Patrol is leading the investigation, and the school said more details will be released as they become available.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
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