Cold contributed to man’s death

Authorities say exposure to cold weather contributed to the death of a Chicago man found in Skokie. The Cook County medical examiner says an autopsy showed that 53-year-old Luis Escalante died of cold exposure. His death was ruled an accident.

The Chicago Tribune reported Escalante was found Saturday in Skokie and pronounced dead on the scene.

He is one of at least four Chicago-area people this year whose deaths have involved exposure to cold weather.

Authorities say there were at least seven cold-related deaths in Cook County during the cold season of 2011-2012 with the first reported on Dec. 3, 2011.