15 people had to be taken to area hospitals because of the freon leak at the Palmer House Hilton hotel restaurant, and at least 40 people were overcome by fumes. The leak happened because of the work that was done on a refrigeration system at the hotel, at 17 E. Monroe St., just after 2 p.m. That sparked the leak, said Fire Commissioner Cortez Trotter. A Level 2 hazardous materials response was called immediately when people felt headaches and weakness. Wabash Avenue and Monroe, Adams and State streets were closed. However, the hotel and streets were reopened when freon levels tested at zero in a room-by-room reading later Monday afternoon.

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