A dangerous mix of cocaine and a narcotic pain reliever killed three people in Chatham County on Saturday, and sent six others to the hospital.
One other person reportedly ingested the drug mixture, and required treatment as well.
The News & Observer reported that Chatham County Deputies identified the dead as Michael Currie, 42, of Bear Creek; Randal Welch, 24, of Franklinville; and Perry Saunders, 23, of Aurora, Missouri.
One of those hospitalized was listed in critical condition as of Saturday night.
Capt. Doug Stuart of the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office told the N&O that all of the deaths and injuries occurred within six hours of each other, at three locations.
The State Bureau of Investigation determined that a powder sample collected from one of the scenes was a combination of cocaine and Fentanyl, a narcotic painkiller. Victims apparently fell ill within an hour. The N&O reported that autopsies will be conducted by the state Medical Examiner’s Office.
The Chatham Sheriff’s Office is investigating any possible link between the deaths and injuries.
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