HILLSDALE, MI (WTVB) – Joint funeral services have been scheduled for 78-year old Donald Hawkins, , and his 25- year old grandson Ridge Hitt, who died on Friday, following a suspected carbon monoxide incident at a home on Peterson Road.
First responders and Hillsdale County Sheriff’s deputies dispatched to the scene around noon Friday after receiving reports of a possible gas leak, though an official cause of death has not yet been formally released.
Hawkins was a deeply respected community figure who founded Hawkins Motor Sales in Hillsdale in 1979, and Hitt had spent the last eight years working alongside him to prepare to take over the family business.
To protect your household and prevent carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning—an odorless, colorless gas known as the “silent killer”, it is critical to implement key safety measures.
Always install battery-operated or battery-backup CO detectors on every level of your home, especially outside sleeping areas, and test them monthly.
Additionally, ensure that all fuel-burning appliances, heating systems, water heaters, and chimneys are professionally inspected and serviced every year, and never run a vehicle, generator, or gasoline-powered engine inside a garage or enclosed space, even if the doors are open.
November is Carbon Monoxide Awareness Month.
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