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Gas from soda fountain blamed for death
Pooler officials probe McDonald's toxic incident
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SAVANNAH — Carbon dioxide piped through gas lines to a soda fountain leaked in a McDonald's in Georgia and sickened 10 people, including a woman who later died after being found unconscious in a restroom, police said Wednesday.

Investigators determined a leaky gas line between the walls caused the gas, used to pump carbonation into sodas, to build up a week ago to the point where people inside were unable to breathe.

"It caused what is normally a harmless gas to be pumped into the wall cavity and leak into the women's restroom," said Pooler Police Chief Mark Revenew. "At a high level of concentration, it displaces oxygen."

Firefighters were called Sept. 7 to the restaurant in Pooler, about 10 miles west of Savannah, and two women were found unconscious in a restroom. They were later admitted to a Savannah hospital, where eight others from the restaurant were treated and released. Eighty-year-old Anne Felton of Ponte Vedra, Fla., died the next day.

Investigators initially suspected customers fell ill to noxious fumes from cleaning chemicals. An autopsy found no trace of chemicals in Felton, Revenew said, but it indicated she succumbed to asphyxiation.

The restaurant's franchisees, John and Monique Palmaccio, said in a statement they "are committed to running safe, welcoming restaurants."

"We worked closely with the authorities to determine the cause of this incident and we've taken action to correct the situation," the statement said.

The police chief said the owners had replaced the soda fountain's gas lines and valves and were allowed to reopen the restaurant.

"At this point we don't anticipate criminal charges," Revenew said. "It just appears to be a mistake."

The U.S. Occupational Health and Safety Administration is also investigating. OSHA investigators were conducting interviews last week, looking into possible workplace safety violations.

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Nuclear plant's safety discussed at meeting
Plant Hatch
Plant Hatch is near Baxley and north Bryan County is in its evacuation zone. - photo by File photo
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff will discuss the 2017 safety performance of the Hatch Nuclear Power Plant during an open house from 4-6 p.m. April 24 in Room 171 of the Southeastern Technical College, 3001 East First St., Vidalia. The two-unit Hatch plant is located near Baxley, about 20 miles south of Vidalia, and is operated by Southern Nuclear Operating Co. NRC employees responsible for plant inspections, including the resident inspectors based full-time at the site, will be available to discuss its performance.
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