Child dies at South Jersey motel, guests evacuated as authorities investigate – NJ.com

A child died at a Salem County motel Friday night, but authorities said the death does not appear to be suspicious.

Police evacuated the Friendship Motel Inn in Carneys Point Township Saturday morning after suspecting carbon monoxide poisoning, but Lt. Dale Dannamee said the medical examiner later ruled that out as a cause of death. He said the child had been being treated for an infection prior to her death.

While they don’t believe carbon monoxide killed the child, who was 7 or 8, authorities did find other people at the motel with elevated carbon monoxide levels in their bodies. The source of the gas is unknown, he said, but it doesn’t appear to be any of the hotel’s gas appliances.

Dannamee said that before authorities ruled out carbon monoxide poisoning, they evacuated the motel at 605 S. Pennsville Auburn Road and tested the carbon monoxide levels of the occupants of the rooms near where the child had died. They did find that a family of six had elevated levels, and they were taken to the hospital to be treated, he said. Another man who had elevated levels declined treatment.

The only source of carbon monoxide in the motel was its gas hot water heater in the basement, he said, but the readings in the basement showed no excess carbon monoxide. Given that the carbon monoxide only affected people in a certain part of the motel, it’s possible a resident was cooking in a room, he said. Dannamee said he has not yet interviewed all the residents.

Guests were allowed back into their rooms late Saturday morning, he said.

He said hotels are required to have smoke detectors in all rooms, but carbon monoxide detectors are only required in areas with appliances.

Salem County Prosecutor John T. Lenahan said the incident was under investigation and he could not release any information.

A woman who answered the phone at the motel Saturday said she couldn’t talk and asked a reporter to call back.

This story was updated from a previous version.

Rebecca Everett may be reached at reverett@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @rebeccajeverett. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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