Wash. College Student Dead, 3 Others Injured After Suspected Carbon Monoxide Leak at Campus Apartment

Mar. 15, 2025

One student at Evergreen State College died and three other indiduals were injured after asuspected carbon monoxide leakat a campus apartment on Monday, according to officials.

A student resident manager called campus police on Monday night when they were “not able to contact the students,“campus officials said in a news release.

An Evergreen police officer then broke down the door around 8:30 p.m. local time and performed emergency CPR, according to Evergreen Police Chief David Brunckhurst.

Two other students and the responding officer were hospitalized as a result of the suspected carbon monoxide poisoning. However, the officer was released Tuesday morning, campus officials said.

Additionally, one of the students has since been released from the hospital, Loftis told PEOPLE on Thursday morning. The second student is still recovering.

“This is a tragedy, and we grieve for our students and families,” Evergreen President John Carmichael said in a statement. “The safety of students, staff and faculty remain Evergreen’s top priority.”

Carbon monoxide poisoning happens after too much carbon monoxide is in the air and the body replaces the oxygen in the red blood cells with carbon monoxide, according to theMayo Clinic.

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The college said that earlier on Monday, “a contractor working on campus in an area of housing called the Modular Apartments responded to carbon monoxide alarms.”

PEOPLE has reached out to Evergreen State College for comment.

“The investigation into the root cause of this tragic incident remains ongoing,” Loftis added. “We appreciate the community’s patience as we continue to work to find answers for those affected.”

source: people.com