A tragic accident claimed the lives of an elderly Montvale couple Saturday night after carbon monoxide from a vehicle left running in their attached garage filled their home, according to authorities. The incident was first reported by Jerry DeMarco of Independent Online News.

Police responded to a welfare check at a home on Lexington Lane at approximately 10 p.m. Saturday, where officers discovered Russell Fraiman, 84, and his wife, Linda Fraiman, 83, deceased inside the residence.

According to Montvale Police Chief Douglas McDowell, first responders detected dangerously elevated levels of carbon monoxide and gas upon entering the home. Emergency personnel immediately evacuated the residence and located the two unresponsive victims, who were pronounced dead at the scene.

Authorities said the deaths were the result of carbon monoxide poisoning caused by a vehicle that had been left idling in the attached garage. Officials are reminding residents that carbon monoxide is an invisible, odorless, and colorless gas that can quickly become deadly, even if a garage door is left open.

Safety officials urge homeowners to never leave a vehicle running inside an attached garage and to ensure it is completely turned off after parking. They also stress the importance of installing working carbon monoxide detectors on every level of a home, particularly near sleeping areas.

The investigation is being handled by the Montvale Police Department with assistance from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, the Bergen County Sheriff’s Bureau of Criminal Identification, and the Bergen County Medical Examiner’s Office.