The Volusia County Medical Examiner has ruled carbon monoxide poisoning killed the couple who died in their boat on July 4 while anchored in the Intracoastal Waterway in Ponce Inlet.

Howard Martin Lupton, 50, and his wife Sandra Lynn Lupton, 48, of Palatka, were discovered by their son in the sleeping cabin of their 29-foot Baja Cruiser about 11 a.m., July 4. When he checked on them that morning they were unresponsive. The Lupton’s, their son and his fiancé had spent the night in separate boats anchored near each other off Disappearing Island.

The U.S. Coast Guard responded to the emergency call within minutes and attempted to resuscitate the couple on site. When the Volusia County Beach Patrol arrived, they and the Coast Guard transported the Lupton’s to nearby Coast Guard Station Ponce de Leon Inlet where they were pronounced dead.

The accident is under investigation by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. For information on how to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning on boats download this brochure from the U.S. Coast Guard at http://www.uscgboating.org/assets/1/Publications/co_brochure_0105.pdf.

Contact:
Joy Hill
352-258-3426

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