Bartlett Man's New Year's Death Caused By Hypothermia

BARTLETT, Ill. (STMW) - A northwest suburban man who took a drunken fall at his home on New Year's Day is at least the fifth Cook County resident to die of cold-related causes this winter season.

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

A Sunday 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.

Bartlett police could not provide further information Monday morning.

Kloss is at least the fifth cold-related death of the season in Cook County.

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, the medical examiner's office said.

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, the medical examiner's office said.

Hans Brueninski, 69, of the 6800 block of Highland Street in Hanover Park, died Dec. 7 of cold exposure and coronary atherosclerosis, according to the medical examiner's office.

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. An autopsy found she died of heart disease and cold exposure.

All the deaths were ruled accidental.

Last winter season, 12 deaths in Cook County were attributed at least in part to cold.

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 This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)