By Ronald Fisher
The Tribune-Democrat
SOMERSET, Pa. — Several employees at SCI-Somerset were hospitalized Thursday evening, according to KDKA-TV in Pittsburgh.
Reports indicate that three employees opened a cell door to hand inmates their meal trays and found the inmates smoking an unknown substance. A short time later, all three employees reported feeling ill, dazed and flushed.
After being sent to the prison’s medical department to be assessed, they were all found to have elevated heart rates and were sent to the Somerset Hospital emergency room for evaluation.
Shortly before 7 p.m., two more SCI-Somerset officers opened a plumbing chase in an attempt to remove the air from the cell where the inmates were found smoking. One of the officers began to feel lethargic and was transported to a local hospital by ambulance. The second officer was also sent for evaluation as a precaution.