Note on car prompts HAZMAT response, dead woman found inside

UPDATE @ 11:18 a.m.:

A sign posted on a vehicle on the side of the road in Greene County warned passersby and first responders of a deadly chemical potentially inside, according to Sheriff Gene Fischer.

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“There’s a sign on the vehicle that basically says ‘Danger. Do not open. Hydrogen sulfide one breath will kill.’” he said.

Deputies on the scene also noticed a woman in the vehicle appeared to be dead, but had to call in Hazmat teams to decontaminate the scene before they could investigate. The car was found in the area of Lower Valley Pike and Union Road, near Huffman MetroPark.

Once the scene was safe, they were able to determine that the woman, 23-year-old Alexandra Sniezek, was dead.

The Greene County Coroner’s Office reportedly performed an autopsy Thursday morning and is working to determine a cause and manner of death.

“It’ll be up to them to rule on the case, whether it’s a self-inflicted death or a homicide,” said Fischer.

At this time, it hasn’t been confirmed if hydrogen sulfide was inside the vehicle, but Fischer was happy that deputies erred on the side of caution.

“My guys did exactly what they were supposed to do on the scene last night,” he said. “If that chemical was exactly what the sign said, then they did the right thing and obviously this would have been a cause of death.”

Crews also followed up with the 911 caller who first reported the vehicle to make sure he wasn’t  affected by any potentially harmful chemicals.

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While Fischer said it’s an unusual case, he said it shows the importance of the public reporting suspicious situations.

“I can’t stress enough the fact that if you see something like this to take it serious and call the proper authorities,” he said.

HAZMAT situation near Huffman Dam HAZMAT situation near Huffman Dam

UPDATE @ 10:29 a.m.:

A 23-year-old Dayton woman was found dead inside a vehicle in a Hazmat incident at Huffman MetroPark.

The woman was identified as Alexandra Sniezek, according to the Greene County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies were dispatched to the Lower Valley Pike and Union Road area around 10:45 p.m. Wednesday on a report of a vehicle on the side of the road with an apparent body inside it.

Once at the scene, deputies saw multiple warning signs taped to the vehicle advising them to stay away due to poisonous gas inside the vehicle.

Bethel Twp. and Wright-Patterson Air Force Base fire departments, along with the Dayton Hazmat team were all notified due to the chance of a poisonous gas, according to the sheriff’s office.

Upon inspected, Dayton Hazmat determined that there dangerous chemicals in the vehicle and decontaminated it.

They also found Sniezek’s body and confirmed she had died.

The case continues to be under investigating by the Greene County Sheriff’s Office.

UPDATE @ 5:20 a.m. (Feb. 28): All roads have reopened after an investigation of a Hazmat incident closed them for several hours beginning late Wednesday.

Crews were dispatched on the incident at Huffman MetroPark and took their investigation to various locations along Ohio 4 beginning at 10:45 p.m., initial reports indicate.

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Crews were focused on a section of Union Schoolhouse Road that cuts underneath state Route 4, just off Lower Valley Road and near the Mad River.

Ohio 4 was blocked in both directions near Bath Road, as well as one lane of travel being blocked on Union Schoolhouse Road .

When the Hazmat incident was first reported, MetroPark rangers instructed residents who lived near the park to stay inside while the investigation was underway.

Details surrounding the Hazmat were not immediately available.

We’ll continue to update this story as additional details become available.

INITIAL REPORT

A situation described as a hazmat incident has several law enforcement and fire/emergency units at Huffman MetroPark.

Montgomery County MetroParks rangers have been joined by hazmat units from Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and Bethel Twp. at the park whose main gate is in the 4000 block of Lower Valley Pike.

Crews were dispatched to the park, then specifically to the Huffman dam off state Route 444, beginning about 10:45 p.m.

We’re hearing officers reporting smelling a “chemical odor” coming from somewhere in the park.

We have a crew on scene. We will update this developing report as we learn more.

Call our 24-hour line, 937-259-2237, if you have a news tip or send it to newsdesk@cmgohio.com