Palatine man found on curb died of a drug overdose

A 45-year-old Palatine man left sitting on a gas station curb Saturday in Des Plaines died a short time later of a drug overdose, Des Plaines Police Chief Jim Prandini said Monday evening.

After reviewing surveillance camera footage from the gas station, police said Michael J. O'Brien, of the 1100 block of Northwest Highway in Palatine, was alive at the time his companions left him at the gas station.

The tape was used to identify the people, police said. Additional details were not released Monday night.

Foul play has been ruled out, Prandini said.

Police reports and the chief gave this account:

A witness saw a man get out of the brown Mazda 929 sedan in the parking lot of a gas station at 2380 S. River Road, go into the station to purchase something and return to the car about 8:50 p.m. Saturday.

According to the witness, the female driver told the man she did not want O'Brien in the car anymore, so they placed him sitting on a curb on the west side of the lot directly south of the gas station. The man got back into the car, and they drove south on River Road.

A gas station attendant called 911, and police found the victim sitting there. Paramedics determined that he had no vital signs. He was pronounced dead at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge.