Mist filled the van, enveloping every inch of the interior to kill disease-causing microbes and remove possible contaminants.
The vehicle, which belonged to the Johnson County Senior Services, had been stolen in mid-July. By the time it was recovered nine days later, it appeared that someone had been using drugs in it and living inside, leaving the interior an unsanitary, disgusting mess.
Area seniors relied on the van to transport them to medical appointments and life-saving treatments. In the condition it was in, it was unusable.
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“This is critical for us. People literally die if they cannot get the life-saving treatments they need,” said Kim Smith, executive director of senior services.
With the help of Moore Restoration, the senior services agency is much closer to having their van back on the road. Workers for the southside restoration company spent hours Wednesday decontaminating the inside of the van, using a one-of-a-kind tool called SteraMist. The process kills almost all biological pathogens and disease-causing agents, and neutralizes organic compounds such as those found in heroin, fentanyl and other drugs.
Moore Restoration donated its time and services to clean the van, recognizing how important it is to local seniors.
“After talking with (Smith), we know the importance of this vehicle, and the safety that is needed. So we made arrangements to come out to do it,” said Clay Oskins, director of business development for Moore Restoration. “It’s very important to us to know that we’re making a difference for seniors in this area.”
The decontamination is a continuation of the ordeal that Johnson County Senior Services have endured over the past three weeks.
On July 11, the van was being used to deliver a patient to the Franciscan Health Cancer Center on the southside of Indianapolis. While the driver was helping the patient inside, someone drove off with the van, according to an Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department report.
The vehicle is equipped with two handicap ramps. It is one of just two vans senior services has that can accommodate large bariatric wheelchairs. That makes it one of the agency’s most important pieces of equipment when helping seniors get to and from appointments, Smith said.
Last year, senior services helped 13,473 seniors make their treatments and doctor’s appointments. It is a free service the local nonprofit organization has provided to seniors for 40 years. Having one vehicle out of commission cuts the organization’s services in half, Smith said.
Dispatchers were working overtime since the van was stolen, rearranging the schedule to make sure everyone made their appointments.
Thankfully, the 2017 Dodge Caravan was found on July 20 at a McDonald’s on Southeastern Avenue in Indianapolis, about nine miles from where it was stolen. Unfortunately, it was in such terrible condition that it could not be used until it was professionally cleaned, Smith said.
In addition to evidence that someone had been living inside the vehicle, needles, a spoon and traces of heroin were found inside.
Through a mutual friend, Smith was connected to Oskins and Moore Restoration. The company does residential and business restoration, but also offers advanced services for medical facilities, hospitals and nursing homes, Oskins said. Their proprietary product, SteraMist, was originally developed by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, a military group, in response to weaponized anthrax attacks in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks.
The decontamination system is the most advanced available. Using low-percentage hydrogen peroxide, the mist kills most biological pathogens including anthrax, Ebola, staph bacteria, mold and clostridium difficile, a hard-to-kill bacteria that can cause life-threatening infections.
The mist can also oxidize drugs, neutralizing any remnants of drug use found in the van.
On Wednesday, Moore Restoration brought their equipment to the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office parking lot, where the van is being housed until it can be updated with new keys.
A worker, protected by a yellow biohazard suit and helmet, applied the mist into the van. Hot water was then used to extract contaminants from the upholstery and floors of the van, and then the mist will be used again.
“We run it through the vents and everything, so it will totally be decontaminated,” Oskins said.
Smith and Dr. Ted Murphy, president of the Johnson County Senior Services board, looked on as the work was being completed. They praised Moore Restoration’s generosity in helping clean the van, as well as the overall community spirit that helped support them through the past three weeks.
“It’s a gift of the community. Not every community would pull together like this community has pulled together to help us through this crisis,” Murphy said. “That is one of the strengths of the people here.”
Once the decontamination is complete, the van will still have to have new keys and locks made, as the thief still has a set of the original keys, Smith said. But she hopes to have “Olaf” — the name given to the vehicle by senior services — back on the road soon.
“It’s a priceless gift. For us, this means more people continue to get to their needed appointments, both medical and non-medical,” Smith said.
