2 Dead in Porsche from Hydrogen Sulfide Inhalation

[RM7]

Not original battery, but still wow!:

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/...004-story.html

Most popular "car" that Porsche sells...

A Woman and her three-year-old daughter, found dead in their still-running SUV on Florida's Turnpike in June, died after inhaling hydrogen sulfide, the medical examiner's office has ruled.

The pungent, colorless gas may have come from the car battery in the Porsche Cayenne SUV, though officials will need to do more tests to know for sure, said Carrie Proudfit, a spokeswoman for the Orange-Osceola Medical Examiner's Office.

Latifa Lincoln, 46, and Maksmilla Lincoln, 3, were found dead on June 2, after the SUV bumped into a guardrail on Florida's Turnpike and came to a full stop north of mile marker 224 in Osceola County. They were driving to Miami, according to a voicemail Lincoln left before her death.

Their deaths remained unexplained for months as officials investigated and waited for toxicology results.

Florida Highway Patrol trooper and two Osceola County deputies walked up to the SUV and saw that the two didn't seem to be breathing, according to their reports. The engine was still running. Lincoln was in the driver's seat, and her daughter was buckled into a child's seat in the back.

The trooper walked to the passenger's side and broke the window to try and get into the car. As soon as he did, the three smelled "a foul, caustic chemical odor," Osceola County Sheriff's Master Deputy Robert Stockman later wrote in a report.

Hydrogen sulfide typically smells like rotten egg in low concentrations, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The gas caused 60 deaths between 2001 and 2010, all of them on-the-job fatalities in fields like mining, oil and gas refining, and manufacturing.

County officials could not find another case of fatal hydrogen sulfide poisoning caused by a car battery, Proudfit said.

"This case is unprecedented," she said. "Despite the large numbers of lead acid batteries in use worldwide, no other fatalities of this type have been reported."

The SUV's battery was not the original part, Proudfit said.

"The battery was not the original battery for the vehicle, nor the correct battery and is believed to have malfunctioned," Proudfit said. "In this particular SUV, the battery is located underneath the driver's seat. Both vehicle and battery will undergo additional examination by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration."

The manner of death has not been determined, Proudfit said. In addition to finding the causes of death, medical examiners classify deaths in one of five possible manner categories: Natural, accident, suicide, homicide or undetermined.

[chillindrdude]

But it wasnt OEM...

The battery appears to be an incorrect type or incorrect installation.

[shemeld_135]

+1 "The battery was not the original battery for the vehicle, nor the correct battery and is believed to have malfunctioned,"

still a shame they lost their life though

[RM7]

Originally Posted by shemeld_135

+1 "The battery was not the original battery for the vehicle, nor the correct battery and is believed to have malfunctioned,"

still a shame they lost their life though

Yes, changed title, but still wow!

[GuidoK]

It can also be that it was the car that did malfunction.
H2S is typically produced when lead acid batteries are overcharged. If the alternator bridge rectifier was producing a voltage too high, the battery is overcharged.
And they probably didnt have their vents on (I cant imagine a battery producing so much H2S that the vents cant vent that out)

[BEM-S4]

Assuming neither she nor her husband did a DIY battery swap, I'd say whoever installed the battery needs to lawyer up quick.

[DDD31]

This could happen if Porsche has a battery system like BMW that requires replacing the battery with the same type and then registering the battery. If these steps aren't followed, an overcharging situation can occur which could lead to a release of hydrogen sulfide. Plus having the battery under the driver's seat, WTF?!?!

+1 on whomever installed the battery lawyering up.

[wdb]

It's under the seat? And the fumes can enter the passenger compartment??

Not good.

[TheBingoBalls]

Highly unfortunate and it will be interesting to see the cause but while rare, this is why I would never go the "cheap" route with a critical part that rarely gets replaced. I love a DIY as much as the next guy and who doesn't like to save money but I don't see the need to save on something as critical as a battery especially if you're only changing it every 5-6 years.