Smoke inhalation causes motel death

Photo: Contributed

The young woman found in a Penticton motel room last summer following a fire, died of carbon monoxide poisoning as a result of smoke inhalation, according to a coroner's report.

The report also says a mix of drugs contributed to the death of 27-year-old Kimberly Lynn Lakey on Aug. 15.

Lakey, who had been living at the Jubilee Motel on Skaha Lake Road for three months, was found on the floor just inside the door.

The investigation revealed she was a heavy smoker and evidence suggested some unattended smoking material smouldered between the bed mattress and the upright divider causing the fabric to ignite.

Illicit drug paraphenalia was also found in the unit. The smoke detector in the room was deemed to not be in operation.

The death was classified as accidental.