Originally published January 2, 2007 at 12:00 AM | Page modified January 2, 2007 at 7:31 PM
Key West hotel where guest died had prior problem with toxic fumes
An upscale resort where a guest was exposed to fatal dose of carbon monoxide had been told that another family at the hotel had been treated days earlier for the toxic fumes.
KEY WEST, Fla. — An upscale resort where a guest was exposed to fatal dose of carbon monoxide had been told that another family at the hotel had been treated days earlier for the toxic fumes, a hospital official said Monday.
Thomas Leuders, 26, and his father Richard, 53, were found unconscious in their fourth-floor room at the Doubletree Grand Key Resort from carbon monoxide poisoning Dec. 27. Thomas Leuders died at a nearby hospital, while his father survived emergency treatment.
An Iowa family that stayed in the same room was treated for exposure to the fumes six days earlier, Key West Fire Chief David Fraga said.
The medical center where the family was treated "did notify the Doubletree hotel of the potential carbon monoxide exposure," Lower Keys Medical Center's chief operating officer, Meylan Lowe-Watler, said in a statement, according to The Miami Herald. "Police, rescue and fire personnel were also aware of the events," he said.
Fraga said his agency did not have enough information to suspect the problem was at the resort, the city's second-largest hotel. He said the Iowa family took part in activities that could have exposed them to carbon monoxide before they fell ill, including taking a boat ride.
"We never received any information indicating that there was a problem at the Grand Key," Fraga said. "Had that been the case we certainly would have followed up."
An investigation found a boiler room next to the fourth floor room created an "abnormally high level of carbon monoxide" in the room. Carbon monoxide is odorless, colorless and tasteless.
Authorities shut down the 216-room resort Friday.
Copyright © 2006 The Seattle Times Company
NEW - 12:25 PM
Rick Steves' Europe: Ride the buses for city sights
NEW - 12:40 PM
Airlines fined for stranding passengers on tarmac
NEW - 12:33 PM
Pass the turkey — and the swine flu?
Get ready for Thanksgiving flight delays, thanks to New York
Biofuel used on Boeing 747 flight

New Beginnings Christian Fellowship
Coming in this Sunday's Pacific Northwest Magazine: Pastor Braxton's mission is to preach a message that appeals to everyone.
shopping
events for Tuesday, Nov. 24
- Metropolitan Pilates Pre-Thanksgiving Sale
- Furnishments Thanksgiving Weekend Sale
- Sky Nursery Holiday Open House
- Cicada Bridal Party Dress Sale
editors' picks
- Garden furnishings
- Vintage, consignment and used clothing
- West Seattle shopping
- Independent bookstores
- Home break-in ends in shootings, Everett police say
- Steve Kelley | Next Seahawks GM should be Mike Holmgren
- Mariners Blog | Jose Lopez appears to be on his way out
- Illegal workers quietly let go
- Amazon, Wal-Mart escalate Web price war
- As glam as he wants to be: Adam Lambert's real debut
- Sprouts, raw fish on attorney's 'do not eat' list
- Bellevue Blog | Bellevue residents blast new bikini espresso stand
- Big demand, grim outlook for state Basic Health Plan
- Husky Men's Basketball Blog | An interview with Enes Kanter's coach
- Bellevue residents blast new bikini espresso stand
252 - Jose Lopez appears to be on his way out
241 - Big demand, grim outlook for state Basic Health Plan
206 - Next Seahawks GM should be Mike Holmgren
152 - Washington State coach Paul Wulff says he's excited about Cougars' future
139 - Hate crimes against gays, religious groups up, FBI says
90 - Some fans at Fort Bragg see themselves in Sarah Palin
82 - Man shoots self at Westlake Center
78 - Teen pimp found guilty of human trafficking
60 - Portland cafe's specialty: medical-marijuana tokes
49
- Sprouts, raw fish on attorney's 'do not eat' list
- Tattoos at Mill Creek church pierce skin, soul
- Food-safety lawyer's wish: Put me out of business
- Illegal workers quietly let go
- Architects, chefs find 'kid' within to build Gingerbread Village
- Nicole Brodeur | Homeless woman bent on giving
- Portland cafe's specialty: medical-marijuana tokes
- Big demand, grim outlook for state Basic Health Plan
- Hutch gets $10M from Bezos family for immunotherapy research
- Rediscovering Moab, 'the most beautiful place on Earth'

