Action 9

New device could prevent carbon monoxide deaths

By Jason Stoogenke, wsoctv.com
By Jason Stoogenke, wsoctv.com

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Vehicles with keyless ignitions are convenient and more cars have them, but there can be a hidden danger.

If you forget your car is on and leave it running in your garage, the result can be deadly.

[RELATED: 16 exposed to carbon monoxide at NC hotel, taken to hospital]

Ray Harrington lost his life that way.

He lived in Davidson and his car had a keyless ignition.

In March 2012, he came home, parked in the garage and went inside.

"After some investigation, they discovered that he passed away from carbon monoxide poisoning and that the determined source was his vehicle, which was left running in his garage, " his son, Xan, told Action 9.

[RELATED: Couple, 2 young children found dead of probable carbon monoxide poisoning]

Harrington devoted a good portion of his life to law enforcement and was a Pfeiffer University professor and a softball coach. Many knew him as "Coach Ray."

"He was such a great dad and spent a lot of time with me and I miss him a lot," Xan said.

Action 9 has covered similar deaths and a close call in which a mother and daughter nearly lost their lives at a house in Mooresville.

Their lawyer, Randall Phillips, said, "They suffered pretty severe carbon monoxide poisoning.  They were hospitalized for days."

Voyomotive, a San Francisco company with research and development facilities in Michigan, saw Action 9's news reports and emailed Action 9.

Voyomotive created a device called Voyo.  If you leave your vehicle running, it texts or emails you seconds after you walk away.  "You're going to pay attention to your phone," CEO Peter Yorke said.

Action 9 put Voyo to the test and it passed.

[RELATED: $12M settlement reached in boy's carbon monoxide poisoning death at Boone hotel]

Xan was so thrilled, he drove from Atlanta to meet Action 9 in Greenville to help get the word out.

"There's certainly a cost I'd be willing to pay for the safety of my family and my loved ones if I could be assured that it worked," he said.

Voyo costs $100.  Action 9 doesn't endorse products, but if there's something out there that you may be interested in, Action 9 wants you to know about it.

Technology's great, but still be diligent.  Make sure you have working carbon monoxide detectors in your home.

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