Autopsy: Ammonia killed Wagener woman

Autopsy results confirm the Wagener woman who died Wednesday in Lexington suffered ammonium poisoning following an 1,800-gallon anhydrous ammonia leak at Tanner Industries, according to the Lexington County Coroner's Office.

The Lexington County Sheriff's Department and Lexington County Coroner's Office continue to investigation he death of Jacqueline P. Ginyard, 38, of 174 Center St. in Wagener.

Her body was found by her car about and an hour and a half after Lexington County communications dispatchers received a call about the ammonia leak at the chemical plant.

The leak was reported at 7:57 a.m.

Her body was found about 9:30 a.m. and she was pronounced dead at 9:36 a.m., said Harry Harman, Lexington County Coroner.

When the first firefighters responded, they saw a dense, white plume of ammonia that resembled a cloud in the sky, according to the Lexington County Sheriff James Metts.

Public safety crews found the body while they searched for injured persons and animals in the square-mile area near the Tanner Industries plant at 115 Whetstone Road.

Detectives think Ginyard drove into the chemical cloud on U.S. 321, said Metts said.

They found evidence that she put her car in reverse gear and turned her vehicle around on the highway after running into the chemical cloud.

"Detectives think the ammonia plume that Ginyard encountered caused her car's engine to stop operating, forcing Ginyard to park the car on the side of the road," Metts was quoted as saying in written press release. "It appears that Ginyard exited her car in an effort to get away from the ammonia plume. It also appears that Ginyard quickly suffered ammonium poisoning. Ginyard's body was found next to her car."

Fifteen patients, including Ginyard, were treated because of the chemical release. Seven of the patients were transported by ambulance to Lexington Medical Center, officials reported.

The Sheriff's department helicopter also conduct an aerial search for injured persons and animals and found the ammonia caused vegetation and leaves on trees to turn black in the area.

Residents in the area near the chemical plant were allowed to return to their homes at about 2 p.m. on Wednesday after South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control officials determined that the ammonia plume had dissipated and no longer posed a health threat.

Contact Karen Daily at kdaily@aikenstandard.com.