Three North Carolina–based Marines were found dead in a car over the summer. The car was parked in front of a convenience store, and there were no signs of foul play. An autopsy later ruled out drug use or suicide and confirmed they died of carbon monoxide poisoning, although how that happened wasn’t immediately clear. Now, a newly released report suggests it was caused by a disconnected exhaust, ABC News reports.
While the exhaust pipes were reportedly rusted, it sounds like the carbon monoxide poisoning may have been caused by poorly done modifications, not poor maintenance. The report claims the car, a 2000 Lexus sedan, had also been lowered, tinted and no longer had working air conditioning.
According to reports from the medical examiner, the car “had been modified in a way that caused multiple large defects in the exhaust system. It appeared that exhaust from the vehicle would have been released under the passenger cabin and not the rear bumper.”
When the bodies were discovered, the car was still on, but the engine wasn’t running. By the time the Marines had turned the engine off, though, they’d apparently inhaled enough carbon monoxide that it was too late. The concentration in one of the Marines’ blood was 23 percent.
It’s an incredibly sad situation, especially because it doesn’t appear that anyone involved acted with malice. Still, it’s a good reminder that whether the catalytic converter was intentionally removed or the exhaust had simply rusted through, it can be incredibly dangerous to operate a vehicle that doesn’t have a properly functioning exhaust system.
Thankfully, catalytic converter thefts appear to be falling, but it’s still a big problem. And while you can technically drive a car without a catalytic converter, if one gets stolen from you or someone you know, you really shouldn’t. Even if it’s expensive, the best thing for most people to do is get their car towed to a mechanic so it can be fixed properly.