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Woman Smoking, Dies When Oxygen Tank Explodes

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Nov 5, 2009 7:15 pm US/Central

Woman Smoking, Dies When Oxygen Tank Explodes

RIVER GROVE, Ill. (Sun-Times Media Wire) ― A woman died Wednesday night after an oxygen tank exploded while she smoked in her home in west suburban River Grove.

Patricia Populorum, 61, of 8260 O'Connor Dr., was pronounced dead at 10:37 p.m. Wednesday at Gottlieb Memorial Hospital in Melrose Park, according to a spokesman for the medical examiner's office.

Populorum had been smoking a cigarette while on an oxygen tank for respiratory problems, when the oxygen ignited and burned her face, according to River Grove Police Chief Rodger Loni.

Populorum's husband called the fire station and fire officials and an ambulance responded at 10:08 p.m., Loni said. When officials arrived at the residence, the fire was already struck out but Populorum was unconscious with burns to her face and body and her breathing was very shallow.

A Thursday autopsy determined Populorum died from inhalation injuries from an oxygen tank explosion and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, the medical examiner's office said. Her death was ruled an accident.

(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2009. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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