Eight Langston Students Hospitalized for Carbon Monoxide Poisoning While University Insists No Gas Leak Was Detected

Sunday, October 17, 2021OKhazmatemergency notificationmedium confidence

Under Investigation

In the early morning hours of October 17, 2021, eight Langston University students were hospitalized for carbon monoxide poisoning from a campus residence hall during homecoming weekend. Six were treated at Integris Baptist and two at Logan County Mercy Hospital. The university and Oklahoma Natural Gas both maintained that no gas leak was detected, even as Guthrie Fire Department officials confirmed a gas leak had been identified in the university apartment, leaving parents and students demanding answers.

Alerts: 2
Response: —
Killed: 0
Injured: 8

Institution

Langston University

Hbcu · OK

~2,200 studentsRave Alert

Confirmed Timeline

Alert Sequence

2 messages in sequence

Some alert texts below are approximate reconstructions from news coverage, not confirmed verbatim transcripts. Reconstructed texts are shown in italic with a dashed border. Verified verbatim texts have a solid border and are marked accordingly.

INITIAL ALERTUnknownEarly morning of October 17, 2021, around midnight CST

Approximate reconstruction239 chars

Emergency personnel are responding to a reported gas leak in a campus residence hall. Students in the affected building should evacuate immediately and move to fresh air. Avoid re-entering the building until cleared by emergency personnel.

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

Reconstructed from KFOR and MSN reporting; official alert text not publicly confirmed

Logan County Sheriff's Office radio log documented an initial call reporting '10-12 people that are passed out and not breathing'

Building evacuation occurred around midnight on the first night of Langston homecoming weekend

FOLLOW-UPEmailMorning of October 17, 2021

Approximate reconstruction356 chars

Langston University is continuing to investigate the reported incident involving several students who were transported to area hospitals. Several inspections have been conducted and no evidence of a natural gas or carbon monoxide leak was detected in the building. We continue to investigate the circumstances that led to these students being hospitalized.

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

University's public position contradicted Guthrie Fire Department's on-scene finding of a gas leak

Oklahoma Natural Gas confirmed to local media that two separate assessments found no evidence of a leak

Discrepancy between fire department and university/utility assessments raised significant parent and community concern

This statement was issued while multiple students were still being treated for clinically confirmed carbon monoxide poisoning

Context

Background

On the night of October 16-17, 2021, as Langston University's homecoming weekend began, multiple students in a campus dormitory became ill. The Logan County Sheriff's Office radio log recorded that units were responding to '10-12 people that are passed out and not breathing' in a university apartment. Eight students were ultimately treated for carbon monoxide poisoning, with some having blood CO levels between 15 and 28 -- a range consistent with moderate to moderately severe poisoning. Despite clinical diagnoses of carbon monoxide poisoning, the university maintained that multiple inspections found no evidence of a leak, a position supported by two assessments by Oklahoma Natural Gas. However, Guthrie Fire Department officials told KFOR that they had identified a gas leak in the building. HVAC and heating experts consulted by KFOR noted that malfunctioning heating equipment could produce carbon monoxide without triggering standard gas detectors. Parents called for transparency, and the incident was compounded hours later when gunshots were reported on campus. Langston, with approximately 2,200 students and limited maintenance staff, is one of the smallest four-year HBCUs in the country.

Outcome

Eight students treated for carbon monoxide poisoning; one student had carbon monoxide blood levels between 15 and 28. Oklahoma Natural Gas conducted two assessments and found no evidence of a leak. Guthrie Fire Department reported a gas leak in the building. No public resolution on the source was announced.

Provenance

Alert Sequence

Background

Sources

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