Couple Die From Carbon Monoxide Poisoning While Having Sex in The Car

WILLIAMSPORT - Making love in a car with the engine running in an enclosed garage proved fatal for a man and woman in Lycoming County.

Keith Payton, 40, of Allenwood and Williamsport, and Salina Johnson, 40 of Williamsport, were discovered about 9:30 p.m. Friday in a garage along Bloomingrove Road north of Williamsport.

Old Lycoming Township police speculated the two were having a sexual relationship when they were overcome because Johnson was partially clad. Marijuana and drug paraphernalia were found in the car, they said.

The car’s ignition switch was on but the vehicle had run out of gasoline, they said. A kerosene heater also was on but it, too, had run out of fuel, they said. High levels of carbon monoxide were detected in the garage, police said.

The couple were pronounced dead at 10:45 p.m. Friday, but police said they had died sometime earlier. Carbon monoxide poisoning was the cause of death, County Coroner Charles E. Kiessling Jr. said Sunday.

The two were discovered by an individual sent by Payton’s brother, who leased the garage, to look for Payton, police said. Payton had gone to the garage to drop off something for his brother on Thursday, police said.