Couple out of hospital after poisoning from gas; Authorities say son arrived at house to find parents unconscious, overcome from carbon monoxide fumes.

• Author: Owen, Paula J.
• Position: Local

Byline: Paula J. Owen

WORCESTER -- A son may have saved the lives of his parents Monday night when he returned home and found them unconscious, the result of carbon monoxide poisoning.

About 9 p.m. Monday, the man arrived at the family's house at 8 Donna Road and encountered a strong odor, according to Deputy Fire Chief Geoffrey Gardell.

The son called 911. While getting his parents out of the house, the son, 27, also was poisoned by the gas, the deputy said.

All three were taken by ambulance to UMass Memorial Medical Center -- University Campus in Worcester. The parents, identified by the deputy as Andrea and Steven Berk, were released from the hospital Tuesday morning, according to a hospital spokesman. The status of the son was not immediately known.

Deputy Chief Gardell said authorities are not clear how long the Berks were in the house before being found. He said firefighters found a vehicle in the garage with the key in the on position.

The car was not running.

There was a very high concentration of carbon...