Wisc. Worker Killed by Fumes, Another Ill

Nov. 29--One man was killed and another critically injured Monday afternoon when they were overcome by fumes at a Dodge County company.

The wife of one of the men stopped at Vivid Image in the Town of Theresa and saw them lying on the floor of the household audio video equipment manufacturing facility. They were unconscious.

The woman called 911 at 3:45 p.m. When Dodge County deputies arrived they smelled a strong chemical odor and requested firefighters, paramedics and hazmat crews. The chemical was either an adhesive or glue.

"We believe that there's a substance on the floor -- a process they were working that created a ventilation hazard," said Dodge County Sheriff Todd Nehls. "We believe they succumbed to fumes of the products."

A 55-year-old man was declared dead at the scene and his body was being decontaminated before transport. The other man, 65, was decontaminated before taken to a hospital for treatment. He was in critical condition late Monday.

The names of the men, who are Vivid Image employees, were not released. They were the only people inside the building at the time. No other injuries were reported.

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