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McLeansboro man dead from possible gas leak

By Becky Malkovich, The Southern

Saturday, January 26, 2008 11:28 AM CST

FRANKLIN COUNTY - An autopsy will help officials determine whether a McLeansboro man's death was caused by a deadly gas.

Kenneth Reiger, 35, was pronounced dead at 1:15 a.m. Friday, not long after his body was discovered lying on a catwalk between two oil tank batteries at a site in rural Franklin County.

Reiger was an oil field heater/treater for TMZ Oil Treating and Tank Truck Service in McLeansboro. He was working at an oil field site operated by Budmark Oil Co. of West Frankfort, Sheriff Bill Wilson said.

The oil field is about 200 yards west of Old Mine 24 Road, north of Petroff Road.

Reiger's body was found by a coworker, who went to the oil field after receiving a call from Reiger's wife, West City Fire Chief Jim Reed said.

His wife called the coworker when her husband failed to return home from work Thursday evening, Reed said.

"She last talked to him at about 7 p.m., and he said there was a very strong gas smell. When she didn't hear from him again, she called a coworker who came out to check on him," Reed said.

Reiger was discovered lying on his back on a catwalk about 15 or 20 feet off the ground, Wilson said.

"Deputies tried to get to him but had to back off because of a strong odor of an unknown substance," Wilson said.

West City firefighters were called for assistance and donned breathing apparatus to retrieve Reiger's body.

Reed said he believes the gas was hydrogen sulfide, a colorless, toxic and flammable gas identified by its recognizable odor and sometimes associated with the storage of oil.

"It smelled like rotten eggs, and it was overpowering," Reed said.

Reiger was pronounced dead at the scene by Franklin County Coroner Stephen Leek, who said an autopsy would be performed Friday to determine the cause of death. He said he didn't want to speculate on the cause of death, but said he doesn't believe there was any foul play.

He said he might not have the results of the autopsy for several weeks.

Funeral services for Reiger will be at 11 a.m. Monday at First General Baptist Church in McLeansboro. Visitation is scheduled for 5 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Harre Funeral Home, also in McLeansboro, and after 10 a.m. until the time of service Monday at the church.

beckymalk@gmail.com

927-5633