Northwest Side Man Is First To Die This Season From Cold Exposure
CHICAGO (STMW) - A Northwest Side man found dead on his garage floor early Sunday has become the winter season's first cold death.
Krzystoff Pekala, 34, of the 2900 block of North New England Avenue, was pronounced dead at Our Lady of the Resurrection Medical Center at 8:07 a.m. on Sunday, the Cook County Medical Examiner's office said.
A spokesman indicated Pekala was found unresponsive on his garage floor.
Police responded to Pekala's home at 6:43 a.m. on Sunday.
An autopsy on Monday revealed Pekala died of cold exposure, with chronic alcoholism listed as a secondary cause of death, the medical examiner's office said. His death was ruled accidental.
Pekala's death marks the first this winter season due to cold exposure.
Last winter, 12 deaths were attributed to the cold.
The low on Saturday night was recorded at 23 degrees at 11:59 p.m. at O'Hare International Airport, according to the National Weather Service.
(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2010. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
