Medical examiner reveals cause of death for woman found entangled in machinery at O’Hare

CHICAGO — The cause of death and identity of a woman who died after she became entangled in machinery at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport early Thursday morning.

According to Chicago police, the woman was found unresponsive inside an unoccupied and restricted area at around 7:30 a.m.

Chicago fire officials said the woman had apparently become entangled in a conveyor belt system that is used to move baggage through Terminal 5.

The woman was pronounced dead on the scene.

Following the incident, fire officials told WGN-News that they had believed it was an industrial accident, as the area was not accessible to the public.

Upon a review of the security footage from the scene, police said it was determined that the woman entered the restricted area just before 2:30 a.m. on Thursday morning.

The woman was later identified as 57-year-old Virginia Vinton, a resident of Waxhaw, North Carolina. Officials from OSHA added that she was not an airport employee.

On Friday, the Cook County Medical Examiner released details about Vinton’s death and said the cause was determined to be asphyxiation by hanging and her death was ruled a suicide.

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