A Rhode Island college football star has tragically died at the age of 21 while trying to charge his phone in his car during the recent snowstorm that swept the East Coast.
The devastating news was revealed by the Newport Police Department on Monday, as officers confirmed that 21-year-old Joseph Boutros had sadly passed away.
According to a press release from the department, officers responded to a parking lot to check on a ‘person inside a vehicle’ at around 7:20pm local time on Monday.
Upon arrival, they found Boutros unconscious inside the vehicle, where he had been charging his cell phone.
It was later ruled that he had died from carbon monoxide poisoning inside the vehicle, having been unaware that the car’s exhaust was clogged with snow.
According to Newport Police Captain Joseph Carroll, Boutros had told a fellow student that he was going to charge his phone in his car due to a power outage in the area.
Salve Regina University college football star Joseph Boutros has passed away at the age of 21
The 21-year-old had been trying to charge his phone in his car during the recent snowstorm that swept the East Coast
Upon finding Boutros, he was transported to the Newport Hospital Emergency Room by Newport Fire Rescue, where he was later pronounced dead.
Tributes for the Salve Regina University college football star have since poured in, with the team sharing a heartfelt statement following the 21-year-old’s death.
‘The Salve Football family is heartbroken by the passing of Joseph Boutros,’ the football team wrote in a statement on Instagram.
‘Joseph’s contagious smile, positive spirit, and genuine love for his brothers left a lasting impact on everyone in our program. He was more than a teammate, he was family.
‘We will honor his legacy by carrying forward the same passion, unity, and joy he brought to us every single day. Rest easy, Joseph.’
Boutros had also played for the Connetquot Thunderbirds before joining Nassau Community College and then later taking his skills to Salve Regina.
Meanwhile, the Newport Police Department said in a statement: ‘This tragic incident was accidental and a reminder to be vigilant to keep exhaust pipes clear of snow and debris when vehicles are idling.’
Many Rhode Island residents faced a third straight morning stuck in their homes on Wednesday as some residential streets remained unplowed.
Blizzards present a host of hazards, ranging from slippery ice to severe cold. But one of the most lethal risks posed by heavy snowfall is completely undetectable to humans.
A electrical line crew from Connecticut and a tree clearing crew from Rhode Island work to restore power after a winter storm dumped more than two feet of snow across the region, Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026, in Plymouth, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
‘The Salve Football family is heartbroken by the passing of Joseph Boutros,’ the football team wrote in a statement on Instagram
The risk of carbon monoxide poisoning is higher in the winter and after heavy snowfall, according to the Centers for Disease Control. During cold weather, people are more likely to use furnaces and heaters that emit the lethal gas.
A number of malfunctions can obstruct proper ventilation, including snowfall that can block exhaust pipes or vents.
Carbon monoxide is often referred to as the ‘silent killer’ because it is odorless, colorless and tasteless. Prolonged exposure to carbon monoxide reduces the ability of blood to carry oxygen to the body’s organs.
It can cause throbbing headaches, disorientation and drowsiness, followed by unconsciousness, convulsions and eventually death.
