One Elgin gas leak victim still hospitalized
One woman was listed in stable condition Saturday at Sherman Hospital in Elgin after 38 people sickened by carbon monoxide at an Elgin commercial building on Friday afternoon were taken to area hospitals.
Officials believe the primary cause of the exposure were two propane gas-powered forklifts being operated in a unit of the Elgin-O'Hare Commerce Center, whose main address is 1200 St. Charles St. in unincorporated Elgin.
Four people were admitted overnight at Sherman Hospital, a hospital representative said Saturday. Two were discharged Saturday morning and one was in the process of being discharged later in the day. It was unknown when the last patient would be discharged, the representative said.
The South Elgin and Countryside Fire Protection District responded to a call just after 2 p.m. Friday from one of the building's units, reporting that multiple workers were ill and one person had passed out. An estimated 120 workers were evacuated from about a dozen units at the building, and 40 people were triaged and evaluated at the scene.
Carbon monoxide levels were high throughout the structure, but the highest was in Unit 1180, where the forklifts were operating. The name of the tenant wasn't available from fire officials Saturday, and a company linked to that address on the Internet couldn't be reached for comment.
Fire officials said they have notified the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and fire inspectors will continue to follow up.