Authorities say a chemical reaction during a well-cleaning job filled a confined space with toxic gas.
CLYDE TOWNSHIP, MI — Two young men died after they were overcome by hydrogen sulfide gas during a well-cleaning job at a recently purchased home in St. Clair County, authorities said. Deputies and firefighters responded just before noon Tuesday to a report of two unconscious workers on Cribbins Road.
The deaths drew an active investigation by the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office and prompted a hazmat response after deputies reported a strong chemical smell at the scene. Officials said multiple first responders were decontaminated at a hospital as a precaution. Three other workers were taken to the hospital for exposure and were expected to recover, according to authorities.
Deputies were dispatched to the 3900 block of Cribbins Road near Bryce Road after central dispatch reported two men down at a home where a crew had been working on a well, authorities said. Sheriff Mat King said deputies smelled gas even from near the road and backed away to avoid being overcome. Fire crews later approached with protective equipment and worked with a county hazmat team to secure the area. The two men were taken to a hospital, where they were pronounced dead, officials said.
One of the men was identified by family and local reporting as Michael Kammer Jr., 21, who had experience doing well work since his teens. The other man was identified as Daniel Hagle, 20. Investigators said a chemical reaction created hydrogen sulfide in a confined space under the home’s porch while workers used muriatic acid as part of the cleaning process. King said the acid appeared to interact with minerals or chemicals in the well and “off-gassed” in the tight space, turning the work area dangerous within moments.
King said the sequence unfolded quickly when one worker realized his partner was unresponsive. “He saw his partner go down,” King said, describing how the second man tried to get him out and entered the confined space, where he was also overwhelmed by the gas. Investigators have not released a minute-by-minute timeline, but officials said the call to dispatch came shortly before noon, and responders treated the scene as a hazardous materials incident once they detected the odor and suspected a toxic exposure.
The sheriff’s office said the men were working at a home that had recently changed hands. The incident happened in Clyde Township, a rural area of St. Clair County northeast of Detroit, where many properties rely on private wells. Hydrogen sulfide is known for a “rotten egg” smell, but experts warn it can be dangerous even at low concentrations and can overwhelm a person rapidly in a confined area. In this case, officials said the gas built up beneath the porch, limiting ventilation and leaving little time for workers to escape once the reaction began.
Authorities said the St. Clair County Emergency Management team, Clyde Township Fire Department, Tri-Hospital EMS and the county hazmat team responded. The sheriff’s office said multiple first responders were decontaminated at a hospital after the call, reflecting the concern that fumes or chemicals could have clung to clothing and equipment. Sheriff’s officials did not say how many responders went through decontamination, but they described it as a precaution tied to the chemical exposure reported at the scene.
The deaths are being reviewed by investigators and the medical examiner’s office, which will determine the official cause of death and document the exposure, officials said. The sheriff’s detective bureau is handling the case, and officials have not announced any citations or criminal charges. Authorities also have not said whether the work was tied to a company, a contractor hired by the homeowner, or a private arrangement, and they have not released details about safety procedures, training, or the equipment on site. Officials said the investigation is ongoing.
For the families, the focus has shifted from the mechanics of the job to the sudden loss. Jenny Kammer, the mother of Michael Kammer Jr., said she watched first responders recover her son and struggled to describe how quickly the day turned into tragedy. She said responders removed his clothing because of chemical contamination. She also said her son was engaged and planned to marry later this year. King said the deaths underscored how a single variable — a confined space — can change the risk of a task that may seem routine to experienced workers.
As of Thursday, authorities had not released additional findings about the precise chemical interaction that produced the hydrogen sulfide, and they had not announced a public briefing on the case. Investigators said they will continue to review the scene and reports from responders and witnesses as they work to confirm what happened and whether further steps will follow.
Author note: Last updated February 19, 2026.
Featured image prompt (1200×630): A wide, realistic news-photo style image of a rural Michigan home exterior with a covered porch and a visible well access area near the porch, yellow caution tape and a parked hazmat response truck in the background, cold winter daylight, subdued colors, no logos, no readable signs, and no identifiable faces.