14 News, The Tri-State's News and Weather Leader-Man killed in Vincennes hotel fire

Man killed in Vincennes hotel fire

By Laura Forbes - bio | email | Twitter
Posted by Jill Lyman - email

VINCENNES, IN (WFIE) - One person is killed Monday morning in a hotel fire in Vincennes.

It broke out around 2:00 a.m. at the Days Inn, formerly the Quality Inn, on Old Wheatland Road.

We're told Ralph Pace of Indianapolis died. Authorities say two others were flown to an Indianapolis hospital.  

A father and son tell us the fire turned a celebration into a nightmare.

Michael Voss had just joined a fraternity at Vincennces University.

"It was a big day for him, pretty emotional," said Michael's father, Juergen Voss.

Juergen says he thought he smelled smoke when he checked in around 1:30, but was told it was just fumes from renovation work.

"We had just gone to bed, and we heard fire alarms very faint in the hallway, but they didn't go off in our room," said Juergen. "I told my son not to panic. I went to the door and opened it and smoke was up to my knees and started pouring into my face."

He says they tried to open the window, but it was bolted shut, so they hit it with a lamp several times, finally breaking through.

"We just felt like squirrels in a cage with the fire coming in on us. We just couldn't get out," said Juergen. "It's a very scary feeling when you hit a window that many times with a steel lamp, and you can't break it open."

Authorities say several others weren't able to escape, and had to be rescued.

A police officer injured his hand breaking a window to get people out.

"We had people calling on their cell phones saying they were trapped in their rooms. With the help of dispatch, we were able to locate them," said Fire Chief Michael Lankford.

The entire wing of the building was damaged by smoke, but crews put the fire out quickly, containing it to the first floor room where it started, just a few doors down from The Voss family.

"We just thank God. We're just grateful that we're alive," said Juergen.

Chief Lankford says he can't confirm whether the windows were bolted shut, but says if they were, it would likely be a violation of fire codes.

A manager with Days Inn told 14 News he couldn't comment on the allegations.

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