Bikers mourn dead campers
2011-09-21 09:14
ECSTASY AND AGONY: What should have been a happy ending to a successful charity event ended tragically for a group of bikers.
CLARKSVILLE, Tennessee - A community of bikers drawn together for charity was left reeling after five people died while camping at a Tennessee festival that the group stages to raise money for needy children.
An organiser of Bikers Who Care, Bill Langford, said the victims, a married couple and three friends, died when fumes from a generator seeped into their camper van.
The bikers took part in the 30th annual Leslie W. Watson Memorial Toy Run and Langford said it was the first time the event had a serious incident.
CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTED
They were found dead inside the vehicle in which police detected dangerous levels of carbon monoxide.
Ron Keele said he had been part of the 200-member motorcycle club for 12 years and knew the victims.
"It broke my heart," he said.
Police are investigating but don't suspect a crime. A medical examiner would determine if carbon monoxide was to blame.
HATCH DIDN'T CLOSE PROPERLY
The camper was rented from Fort Campbell, as were most of the campers at the event.
Langford said it appeared that a small storage hatch on the recreational vehicle was not properly closed and allowed fumes from the generator to leak into the vehicle.
Police said carbon monoxide readings inside the trailer were as high as 438ppm. Permissible limits for carbon monoxide are 35ppm averaged over eight hours with a 200ppm ceiling.
