The death of an elderly woman from apparent cyanide poisoning sent nine people to the hospital for decontamination and temporarily shut down a Brighton street and St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center.
Authorities yesterday said they were investigating the death of the unidentified woman who was in her early 70s. They were trying to determine if she ingested the cyanide on purpose or accidentally.
Police said the woman had access to the cyanide through her employment, but they did not say where she worked. The incident was still being investigated.
While much of the Lake View Road neighborhood was roped off with police tape and dozens of emergency and hazardous materials vehicles, authorities said that there was no threat to the public.
Three police officers, four firefighters and two people inside the 192 Lake View Road home were taken to St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center. A dry decontamination was conducted, meaning the people basically had to change their clothes.
A St. Elizabeth’s spokeswoman said the hospital was put on Code Black, meaning no new patients could be taken in.
