Officials say 2 dead, 4 sick from wild mushrooms

My Fox Spokane Biz
Officials say 2 dead, 4 sick from wild mushrooms

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - Two residents of a Northern California assisted living facility have died and four others are hospitalized after eating soup with wild mushrooms, authorities said.

Placer County sheriff's officials told the Sacramento Bee (http://sacb.ee/STLV3S ) that Barbara Lopes, 86, and Teresa Olesniewicz, 73, died after eating the soup that had been prepared by a caregiver at the facility.

The caregiver who prepared the soup was among the six people sickened, said Sheriff's Lt. Mark Reed. The conditions of the four people hospitalized were not immediately known, and their names have not been released.

Deputies determined the deaths were an accident after they were called to the Gold Age Villa in Loomis on Friday, Reed said. The caregiver "just didn't know" the mushrooms were poisonous, he told the newspaper.

Placer County officials referred questions about the incident to the California Department of Social Services, the agency that licenses senior care facilities.

Michael Weston, an official with the agency, said the incident was under investigation and had no further details to release. He said the facility is licensed to care for up to six elderly residents.

A call to Gold Age Villa was not immediately returned.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Most Popular Stories

Protesters chant 'Stop the IRS' in Cincinnati

Protesters chant 'Stop the IRS' in Cincinnati
By DAN SEWELLAssociated Press CINCINNATI (AP) - Tea party activists waving flags and signs, singing patriotic songs and chanting anti-IRS slogans protested outside federal buildings across the country Tuesday to protest the agency's extra scrutiny of conservative groups. A crowd packed the

WATCH LIVE: Clay Starbuck Trial Happening Now; Accused Of Murdering His Ex Wife

WATCH LIVE: Clay Starbuck Trial Happening Now; Accused Of Murdering His Ex Wife
SPOKANE, Wash. – The trial of Clay Starbuck, charged with killing his ex-wife Chanin and sexually violating her remains, entered its third week Monday at the Spokane County Courthouse. Chanin Starbuck was found strangled to death in her Deer Park home in December of 2011, and Clay

Small Fla. city anxious to learn jackpot winner

Small Fla. city anxious to learn jackpot winner
By TAMARA LUSH and BARBARA RODRIGUEZAssociated Press ZEPHYRHILLS, Fla. (AP) - It could be an anxious wait of up to two months for people in a small Florida city to find out who won the highest Powerball jackpot in history: an estimated $590.5 million. The lucky ticket was bought sometime Saturday