Salve Regina Student, Obituary, Cause Of Death Dies From Carbon Monoxide Poisoning In Car

A 21-year-old student at Salve Regina University died Monday evening from carbon monoxide poisoning after remaining inside a running vehicle that had become buried in snow, according to authorities. Officers from the Newport Police Department and crews from Newport Fire Department responded around 7:20 p.m. on Feb. 23 to a parking lot along Bellevue Avenue to check on a report of someone sitting inside a car. When first responders arrived, they discovered Joseph Boutros unconscious in the driver’s seat.

The vehicle was still running as he attempted to charge his cellphone. Officials said the car was heavily covered in snow, with the exhaust pipe blocked and embedded in the buildup. Because the exhaust was obstructed, carbon monoxide — an invisible, odorless gas — accumulated inside the vehicle. The dangerous fumes quickly overwhelmed Boutros without warning. Emergency personnel transported him to the emergency department at Newport Hospital, where he was pronounced dead shortly afterward.

Authorities determined the incident to be accidental. According to officials, Boutros had gone to his car after his dormitory lost power during the winter storm. The tragedy underscores the serious risks associated with running a vehicle in snowy conditions. Police and fire officials emphasized the importance of clearing snow and debris from a vehicle’s exhaust pipe before idling, particularly following heavy snowfall, to prevent carbon monoxide from building up inside.