CO poisoning suspected in woman’s death

Authorities evacuate 2 apartment buildings in Vandalia.

— A woman’s death VANDALIA from suspected carbon monoxide poisoning on Saturday prompted the evacuation of two apartment buildings and more warnings from officials that detectors of the gas are as important in the home as smoke detectors.

A man called 911 on Saturday around 1 p.m. after finding his wife, Patricia Bolden, 43, unresponsive in her apartment on Maple Street in Vandalia. Responding firefighters detected an elevated CO level, and they evacuated about 10 residents from two structures, said Chad Follick, the Vandalia fire chief.

Two residents were evaluated for potential CO issues, but no one else was transported from the scene by medical personnel, Follick said.

Bolden’s husband told a 911 operator that he spoke with his wife on Friday and she said she wasn’t feeling well. He went to the apartment on Saturday, and he used a key to try to enter.

“She was up against the door, so he had to push something, which ended up being the female that was in there, out of the way to get inside,” said Vandalia police Lt. Dan Swafford. “He immediately called us.”

The incident comes about a month after four Troy children were found unresponsive in their home. Three later died from carbon monoxide poisoning. In that case, officials determined a blocked chimney flue prevented the gas from venting properly.

Vandalia officials said there was a CO detector in Bolden’s apartment, but it’s unclear whether it was working appropriately.

“We believe it’s some type of gas-fired appliance in the building somewhere,” Follick said, “and we’re using assistance of Vectren and our building inspectors to locate that suspect device.”

An autopsy is scheduled for today.