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Calif. hotel death investigated as chemical suicide

A hazmat incident at a California hotel left one person dead and nine people hospitalized when guests reported smelling a chemical odor

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Emergency personnel respond to a hazmat incident at the Fairmont Hotel.

Photo/KTVU via AP

Chemical suicides pose a risk to first responders and the public. The San Diego County Department of Environmental Health conducted a study to explore the risk and produced a training video, which you can watch here.

By Associated Press

SAN JOSE, Calif. — The death of a woman in a chemical incident that sickened nine other people at a Silicon Valley hotel is being investigated as a suicide.

San Jose police Officer Gina Tepoorten confirmed the nature of the investigation Sunday but says her department does not release specific details of suicides.

Tepoorten says the woman’s name will be released by the Santa Clara County Coroner’s Office after next-of-kin are notified.

Hotel staff called 911 around 10 a.m. Saturday to report an apparent suicide involving chemicals that had an odor similar to rotten eggs.

Fire Department hazardous materials teams responded and more than 100 guests were evacuated.

Fire Capt. Mitch Matlow says people reported symptoms such as headaches and feeling faint.

KTVU reports the nine hospitalized included seven hotel employees and two guests.

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