Carbon monoxide caused death of retired ELCA pastor

by Frank Imhoff, ELCA News Service

An autopsy confirmed July 17 that the Rev. Walter J. Vierling,
91, a retired pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America (ELCA), Pearisburg, Va., died July 14 of carbon monoxide
poisoning, according to The Roanoke (Va.) Times newspaper.
Vierling was staying in a dormitory at Roanoke College, Salem,
Va., while attending "Power in the Spirit," an annual conference
sponsored by the ELCA Virginia Synod. Roanoke is one of 28 ELCA
colleges and universities.

A carbon monoxide build-up early July 14 at the "Sections" --
three connected dormitories on the campus -- sent more than 100
people to Salem area hospitals for evaluation. In addition to
conference participants, 37 teenagers on campus for an Upward
Bound program were staying there. The last of those hospitalized
was released July 17 from Lewis-Gale Medical Center, Salem.

The college is in the process of installing carbon monoxide
monitors in all residence halls and in all other campus
buildings. "Providing for the safety of our entire campus
community is our top priority," said Teresa Gereaux, director of
public relations, Roanoke College. Dr. Sabine O'Hara, Roanoke
College president, appointed a five-member task force to study
the accident and to help develop the college's long-term response
to the safety issues.

The carbon monoxide leak was caused by a failure in a natural gas-
powered water heating system, Pat Counts, chief of the Salem Fire-
EMS Department, told a July 19 news conference. He said the
system is made of several mechanisms that are supposed to stop
functioning if one part fails. Counts said he did not know which
part failed, but the system continued to function. Pressure
built up over 24 hours, releasing carbon monoxide into the
dormitories, he said.