ADOT employee saves elderly couple from carbon monoxide poisoning

PHOENIX — An Arizona Department of Transportation employee saved an elderly couple suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning early Monday.

Jose Baeza, whose job is to oversee litter pickup and graffiti removal, saw a car stopped near the Loop 303 interchange around 2 a.m., according to a press release.

He stopped and knocked on the driver’s window, but the occupants were not responsive.

After the car began to move and hit a wall, Baeza moved his truck and turned on his lights to warn oncoming traffic.

Eventually the driver woke up, felt disoriented and handed over his keys while the passenger remained unresponsive.

Baeza stayed with them until Phoenix Fire and Arizona Department of Public Safety officials arrived.

Responders determined that the couple had carbon monoxide poisoning, and they were taken to the hospital.

“We have CPR training to prepare for incidents like this, but this is the first time it’s ever happened to me,” Baeza said in the release.

“I was nervous at first, but I stayed until the fire department and DPS got there, and I feel good about it. It could’ve been a lot worse.”

According to ADOT, the couple has fully recovered.

“From my point of view, it’s all too easy to pass those cars by when you’re focused on your work,” John Zandler, Baeza’s supervisor, said in the release.

“Baeza went out of his way to help them.”

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