Suspected Chemical Suicide Creates Hazmat Situation in Fair Lawn

Bergen County hazmat and bomb squad crews converged on a Fair Lawn residence Monday night to ensure a suspected chemical suicide carried out in a car outside the home didn't pose a danger to neighborhood residents.

A man, who has yet to be identified, was found dead in the driver's seat of a blue Honda outside a 36th Street home around 4:30 p.m. Monday with a bucket of chemicals beside him, police said.

Due to the yellow tinge of the chemicals and the pungent rotten egg-like odor emanating from the vehicle, hazmat experts on scene suspected the man may have been overcome by highly poisonous hydrogen sulfide fumes, which can be produced by mixing together certain household items.

Police taped off the street while the county's hazmat team and bomb squad inspected the dwelling for signs of other potentially dangerous chemicals or incendiary devices left inside by the victim, Sgt. James Corcoran said.

Once the scene is deemed clear, which Corcoran said could take hours, the car will be towed to Fair Lawn's Department of Public Works facility where it can be vented safely and the victim inside can be identified.

The Fair Lawn fire department, heavy rescue squad and hazmat team also assisted the scene.

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