EYEWITNESS NEWS INVESTIGATION New Information On Fatal Carbon Monoxide Leak Uncovered
Reported by: Elizabeth Norieka
Videographer: Matt Durrett
Web Producer: Elizabeth Noreika
Reported: Feb. 7, 2012 9:08 PM EST
EYEWITNESS ONLINE WEBCAST VIDEO C L I C K T O P L A Y
South Charleston
, Kanawha County
, West Virginia
Eyewitness News has uncovered new information surrounding the fatal carbon monoxide leak at the Holiday Inn Express in South Charleston.
We now know investigators are trying to determine whom of 3 different parties is ultimately responsible for the exhaust pipe on the pool heating unit to become disconnected.
Investigators say a hotel worker, an unnamed company and Barboursville based Premier Pools all worked on the heating unit.
Steve Combs owns Premier Pools. He says he was just finishing a job someone else started and feels his role wouldn't have any effect on the exhaust pipe disconnecting.
The pool heater is on the main floor in the pool equipment room, a room not accessible to guests. It is a Jandy Pool Heater model number LRZ. We're told that unit was installed around December 27th.
The exhaust pipe attached to the heater goes straight up until it gets to the fourth floor and that's where it bends at a 90 degree angle to release carbon monoxide outside. At that 90 degree angle is where the pipe became disconnected, causing CO to first build up inside the wall and eventually leak out into the hotel.
Investigators say while they are not certain it is likely, the exhaust pipe became disconnected when the old pool heating unit was disassembled,
meaning carbon monoxide was building up in a large area for around a month.
Investigators say they should be finished with their investigation by Friday.
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Elizabeth Norieka
