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Man Is At Least 6th To Die From Cold Exposure

CHICAGO (STMW) -- A 46-year-old man died Tuesday morning at a Chicago hospital of cold exposure, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner's office. His death was at least the sixth caused by the cold this season.

Ciro Acosta-Velasquez, 46, of an unidentified address, died of hypothermia and cold exposure, an autopsy Wednesday determined. A secondary cause was listed as chronic alcoholism and his death was ruled an accident.

Acosta-Velasquez was pronounced dead at 10:42 a.m. at Saint Anthony Hospital, according to the medical examiner's office. It was not immediately known where Acosta-Velasquez was found before being taken to Saint Anthony.

Five other people have died, at least part from the cold, since December, according to the medical examiner's office.

Roy Kloss, 65, of the 300 block of Helen Drive in Bartlett, was pronounced dead Jan. 1 at Saint Alexius Medical Center in Hoffman Estates at 4:03 p.m., the Cook County Medical Examiner's office said.

A Jan. 2 autopsy found Kloss died of hypothermia after suffering a bone fracture due to alcohol intoxication, the medical examiner's office said. Kloss was found unresponsive at his home.

William Kaushagen, 36, of the 6800 block of 175th Place in Tinley Park, died Dec. 28 of hypothermia, with cold exposure and chronic alcoholism as contributing factors.

Krzystoff Pekala, 34, of the 2900 block of North New England Avenue, died Dec. 5 of cold exposure, with chronic alcoholism listed as a secondary cause.

Hans Brueninski, 69, of the 6800 block of Highland Street in Hanover Park, died Dec. 7 of cold exposure and coronary atherosclerosis.

Rosetta Williams, 76, of the 3100 block of West Roosevelt Road, died Dec. 22 after collapsing at a bus stop at 3414 W. Roosevelt Rd., the medical examiner's office said.

(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2010. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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