Woman Hospitalized After Coming in Contact with Suspicious Powder

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Updated: 6:15 PM Sep 8, 2010

A woman was hospitalized Wednesday morning after opening a letter and coming in contact with a suspicious powder at Aker Wade Power Technologies in Albemarle County. Lab results indicate there was no harmful substance in the letter.

Posted: 11:44 AM Sep 8, 2010
Reporter: Jessica Jaglois
Email Address: jessica.jaglois@newsplex.com

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September 8, 2010

Hazardous materials crews were called to Aker Wade Power Technologies in Albemarle County around 9:15am Wednesday for reports of a suspicious letter.

Upon arrival, crews say they found a woman who had reportedly come in contact with a suspicious white powder after opening a letter at the Aker Wade warehouse, located in the 4000 block of Hunterstand Court near the Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport.

"Someone had opened a suspicious letter that had some sort of powder on the outside of it," said John Oprandy, of Albemarle County Fire & Rescue.

The women experienced a burning sensation from the powder, and was transported to the hospital for further evaluation.

Once she realized the burning sensation she put [the letter] in a Ziploc bag," said Oprandy.

Hazmat crews packaged the letter and sent it to a lab for more analysis. Albemarle County Communications Director, Lee Catlin, reported Wednesday afternoon that the Fire Marshall’s Office has gotten back results from the lab indicating that there was no harmful substance.

The Aker Wade Power Technologies building was evacuated as a precautionary measure, but employees have since been allowed to re-enter the building. Homeland Security and the Federal Bureau of Investigation were also contacted, but the agencies did not investigate the incident.

Aker Wade makes fast-charging battery equipment for electric cars.

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