At Least 3 Metro Detroit Deaths Linked To Heat Wave

The Oakland County Medical Examiner's office said Thursday that the extreme heat wave hitting southeast Michigan was a contributing factor to a 37-year-old man's death.

Officials said Clark Carrier Jr. was found dead Wednesday in his home in Highland Township.

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His sister discovered him in the garage. He was rushed to the hospital, but it was too late.

Officials said he worked as a cook at a nearby restaurant. He began to feel ill Wednesday afternoon and was told to go home and rest.

Local 4 has learned the temperature in the kitchen was about 120 degrees.

Officials said Carrier had a heart condition, but that the strain from the heat aggravated the condition to fatal. He weighed about 300 lbs. and had battled health problems for a number of years.

His official cause of death was ruled hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and hyperthermia.

Later Thursday evening second man was pronounced dead due to extreme heat in Detroit. According to Henry Ford Hospital, a man in his 60s passed away from hyperthermia. The man was in the car with the windows rolled up in front of his home on Greenway Street near Joy and Livernois when he was found dead. His name is not being released at this time.

And a third man died Thursday night, also from heat-related illness in Redford.

Highs across much of Michigan have hovered above 90 degrees for more than a week.