Woman Dies, 9 Treated In Chemical Agent Release: San Jose Police

SAN JOSE, CA — Poisonous chemicals killed one woman in an apparent suicide at a downtown San Jose hotel and sent nine other people to the hospital, one in life-threatening condition, fire officials said.

The chemical release prompted the evacuation of three floors of the Fairmont San Jose Hotel in downtown San Jose Saturday, fire officials said, and one floor of the 22-story hotel remained closed Saturday night.

About 10 a.m., Saturday, firefighters were dispatched to the hotel on a report of an attempted suicide on the 19th floor in which chemicals were used, San Jose Fire Department Capt. Mitch Matlow said. The crew found the woman dead in a hotel room on the 19th floor, the fire captain said.

San Jose police are investigating the incident as a suicide, according to Officer Gina Tepoorten.

Nine hotel staffers and guests who were exposed to the chemical were decontaminated at the hotel and then taken to the hospital, Matlow said. Another group of people was evaluated on the scene and not taken to the hospital, Matlow said.Saturday night, Matlow said the chemical involved has been identified, but did not reveal what it was.

The 19th floor of the hotel remained closed Saturday night, fire officials said, but the other floors had been reopened.

—Bay City News