A 21-year-old Salve Regina University student died from carbon monoxide poisoning while charging his phone in a vehicle Monday night.
Newport Police found Joseph Boutros unconscious in the vehicle which was in a parking lot outside of the Young Building.
Police say the vehicle and the exhaust pipe were covered in snow and Boutros was rushed to a hospital where he was pronounced dead. Boutros was a member of the Salve football team and University President Kelli Armstrong has issued a statement saying the campus community is mourning this tragic loss.
Police say the death was accidental and it stands as a reminder to keep exhaust pipes clear of snow and debris when vehicles are idling.
(Photo: Salve Regina University)