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'Violently ill': 3 people hospitalized after drinking 'unknown cleaner' at Winston-Salem bar

'Violently ill': 3 people hospitalized after drinking 'unknown cleaner' at Winston-Salem bar
COMING UP AT 630 TONIGHT AND 12 INVESTIGATES NEW DOCUMENTS ARE HELPING US UNDERSTAND A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED AT A WINSTON-SALEM BAR AFTER SEVERAL PEOPLE SUDDENLY GOT SICK. THIS HAPPENED A FEW WEEKS AGO. DAVONTE MCKENITH IS LIVE IN STUDIO FOR US TONIGHT. DEVONTE, LET’S START WITH WHERE THIS HAPPENED. WELL, KENNY BURKE STREET PUB IS THE BAR WHERE MEDICS AND FIREFIGHTERS RESPONDED TO ON NOVEMBER NINTH, 911. DOCUMENTS TONIGHT SAY THAT CALL CAME IN AROUND 820 THAT THURSDAY. THAT SAME REPORT SAYS A MAN WAS THROWING UP AFTER DRINKING AN UNKNOWN CLEANER. FORSYTH COUNTY EMS SAYS IN ALL, THREE PEOPLE WERE TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL. ONE WENT BY MEDIC TO ATRIUM HEALTH, WAKE FOREST BAPTIST. TWO WERE TAKEN BY PERSONAL CAR 12 INVESTIGATES, GOT A COPY OF THE 911 CALL MADE THAT NIGHT AND THE CALLER DESCRIBES ONE MALE WHO WAS, QUOTE VIOLENTLY VOMITING AND WOULD NOT LEAVE THE BATHROOM. WE BELIEVE THAT THE BEER CLEANERS, THE BEER LINE CLEANERS LEFT A POISONOUS CLEANER IN ONE OF THE LINES. I HAVE THREE CUSTOMERS. I HAVE INGESTED IT WHO ARE ALREADY ON THE WAY TO THE HOSPITAL. ONE IS STILL HERE VIOLENTLY ILL. PLEASE SEND AN AMBULANCE. THIS THIS AGAIN HAPPENED ON A THURSDAY. IT’S IMPORTANT TO NOTE BECAUSE THE CALLER TOLD 911 ON TUESDAYS THEY CONTRACTED COMPANY COMES IN TO BURKE STREET PUB TO CLEAN THOSE BEER LINES AND THE CALLER BELIEVES THEY LEFT CLEANER IN ONE OF THOSE LINES. I THINK THAT THEY LEFT THE CLEANER IN ONE OF THE BEER LINES BECAUSE ALL THREE OF THESE PEOPLE DRANK THE EXACT SAME BEER AND IMMEDIATELY BEGAN VOMITING. THEY SAID IT WAS BURNING THEIR THROATS, BURNING THEIR MOUTH. SO THE QUESTION TONIGHT, WHO IS INVESTIGATING THE FORSYTH COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND THE STATE’S DEPARTMENT OF LABOR ARE NOT INVESTIGATING BECAUSE THE PUB DOESN’T SERVE FOOD. THE NORTH CAROLINA ABC COMMISSION, WINSTON-SALEM POLICE AND FORSYTH COUNTY EMS ARE ALSO NOT INVESTIGATING THIS CASE. WE’RE WORKING TO FIND OUT WHO IS. AND OF COURSE, WE’LL KEEP YOU UPDATED AT BURKE STREET PUB HAS NO
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'Violently ill': 3 people hospitalized after drinking 'unknown cleaner' at Winston-Salem bar
Three people were injured after drinking an "unknown cleaner" at a Winston-Salem bar earlier this month.According to an event report from Forsyth County Emergency Services, firefighters and medics were called to Burke Street Pub on Nov. 9 in reference to a poisoning. Crews arrived at the bar 10 minutes after the call, around 8:30 p.m. Top Stories Winston-Salem police: No charges filed after Parkland High student dies from jumping from back of moving busWinston-Salem bar owner surrenders alcohol licenses after multiple violent incidents, safety officials sayNorth Carolina man arrested in connection to 'Street Takeover' events, Davidson County deputies sayGet the latest news stories of interest by clicking here The report says a male was vomiting at the time of the 911 call after ingesting an "unknown cleaner."David Lawson, the 911 systems manager for FCEMS, says three patients were taken to the hospital. One went by ambulance to Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist, and two others went by personal car.Through a Freedom of Information Act request, 12 Investigates obtained the 911 call made that night which revealed more details about the incident. The caller describes one male who was "violently vomiting" and would not leave the restroom."We believe the beer line cleaners left a poisonous cleaner in one of the lines. I have three customers that have ingested it. Two are already on the way to the hospital. One is still here, violently ill. Please send an ambulance," the caller stated.Watch: NOWCAST streaming newscastsThe caller said they did not know the person's age, but they were awake and talking.The caller also said on Tuesdays, a contracted company comes in to clean the beer lines out and the caller believes they left the cleaner in one of the beer lines."All three of these people drink the exact same beer and immediately begin vomiting. They said it was burning their throats and burning their mouths," the caller told 911.The North Carolina Department of Labor said, "Since the hospitalized individuals were customers and not employees, the NCDOL would have no jurisdiction to investigate." The Forsyth County Health Department also said they were not investigating: "The health department is not responsible for inspecting the pub as it does not serve food," a spokesperson said.The North Carolina ABC Commission says they are not investigating. The Winston-Salem Police Department and the Forsyth County EMS also say they are not investigating. '12 Investigates' is working to find out who is.Burke Street Pub did not respond for comment until Thursday morning. In a statement, staff say: "Our draft lines are cleaned and serviced bi-weekly by the beer distributing companies. Not employees of Burke St Pub. This is an industry-wide practice. On Tuesday November 7th, our lines were cleaned and serviced by one of the beer distributing companies.This particular beer was not served until the Thursday the 9th. Unbeknownst to our staff or patrons, and unrecognizable by sight or smell; beer line cleaner was left in the line by the beer company's line cleaning technician.The three who ingested the beer were immediatley given prompt medical attention and the beer company was contacted.The beer company, who for legal reasons their name cannot be released at this time, has since reserviced their lines and followed all safety precautions to ensure their product is safe to serve."Keep up with the latest news and weather by downloading the WXII app here.NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Watch NOWCAST TV | Local News | National | News We Love |Trending Stories

Three people were injured after drinking an "unknown cleaner" at a Winston-Salem bar earlier this month.

According to an event report from Forsyth County Emergency Services, firefighters and medics were called to Burke Street Pub on Nov. 9 in reference to a poisoning. Crews arrived at the bar 10 minutes after the call, around 8:30 p.m.

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The report says a male was vomiting at the time of the 911 call after ingesting an "unknown cleaner."

David Lawson, the 911 systems manager for FCEMS, says three patients were taken to the hospital. One went by ambulance to Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist, and two others went by personal car.

Through a Freedom of Information Act request, 12 Investigates obtained the 911 call made that night which revealed more details about the incident. The caller describes one male who was "violently vomiting" and would not leave the restroom.

"We believe the beer line cleaners left a poisonous cleaner in one of the lines. I have three customers that have ingested it. Two are already on the way to the hospital. One is still here, violently ill. Please send an ambulance," the caller stated.

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The caller said they did not know the person's age, but they were awake and talking.

The caller also said on Tuesdays, a contracted company comes in to clean the beer lines out and the caller believes they left the cleaner in one of the beer lines.

"All three of these people drink the exact same beer and immediately begin vomiting. They said it was burning their throats and burning their mouths," the caller told 911.

The North Carolina Department of Labor said, "Since the hospitalized individuals were customers and not employees, the NCDOL would have no jurisdiction to investigate."

The Forsyth County Health Department also said they were not investigating: "The health department is not responsible for inspecting the pub as it does not serve food," a spokesperson said.

The North Carolina ABC Commission says they are not investigating. The Winston-Salem Police Department and the Forsyth County EMS also say they are not investigating. '12 Investigates' is working to find out who is.

Burke Street Pub did not respond for comment until Thursday morning. In a statement, staff say:

"Our draft lines are cleaned and serviced bi-weekly by the beer distributing companies. Not employees of Burke St Pub. This is an industry-wide practice.

On Tuesday November 7th, our lines were cleaned and serviced by one of the beer distributing companies.

This particular beer was not served until the Thursday the 9th. Unbeknownst to our staff or patrons, and unrecognizable by sight or smell; beer line cleaner was left in the line by the beer company's line cleaning technician.

The three who ingested the beer were immediatley given prompt medical attention and the beer company was contacted.

The beer company, who for legal reasons their name cannot be released at this time, has since reserviced their lines and followed all safety precautions to ensure their product is safe to serve."


Keep up with the latest news and weather by downloading the WXII app here.

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