Carbon Monoxide and Vehicle Safety

Steubenville police say Franciscan University of Steubenville students Luke Reimer, 20, of Indian Shores, Florida, and Mary Mich, 20, of Downingtown, Pennsylvania, were found dead shortly after 12:30 p.m. Monday in a vehicle parked behind St. Agnes Residence Hall. Police Chief Kenneth Anderson said there were no signs of foul play or drug use, and on Tuesday the Jefferson County Coroner’s Office notified police that toxicology tests showed both died of carbon monoxide poisoning. Anderson said the deaths have been ruled accidental and are likely linked to a problem with the vehicle’s exhaust system. University president Father Dave Pivonka announced the campus canceled events Monday, held a Holy Hour and Rosary, and is offering counseling and spiritual support to grieving students and staff. The CDC has long warned that even small exhaust leaks can allow carbon monoxide to build up inside cars and SUVs, particularly when tailgates or rear hatches are open without other vents or windows cracked, underscoring a recurring but often overlooked safety risk.