South Side woman’s death is first cold-related one in Cook County
November 28, 2012 5:34PM
Updated: November 28, 2012 9:01PM
An 83-year-old woman was found dead Tuesday morning in her South Side home — the first confirmed cold-related death of the season in Cook County.
Florence Hawkins, of the 8200 block of S. Chappel, died of cold exposure, with coronary atherosclerosis a contributing factor, according to an autopsy Wednesday. Her death was ruled an accident, the medical examiner’s office said.
The low temperature on Tuesday was 17 degrees at 7:08 a.m., according to the National Weather Service. Monday night’s low was 23 degrees at 11:53 p.m.
There were at least seven cold-related deaths in the winter of 2011-12, according to autopsy results, with the first reported on Dec. 3, 2011.
Sun-Times Media
