A 93-year-old, bedridden grandmother was killed yesterday when she lit a cigarette and a fire erupted in her Morningside Heights apartment, law enforcement sources said.
Gersuila Carter was found dead in bed in her 13th-story LaSalle St. apartment in the Morninside Gardens complex after flames erupted about 12:50 p.m., friends and officials said.
Fire marshals determined the cause appeared to be careless smoking, the sources said.
Moments before smoke filled the apartment, Carter's home health aide left to pick up a prescription, leaving the heavy smoker alone in the apartment, her friends said.
"She was an extremely wonderful person," a neighbor said. "It's a terrible way to go."
Firefighters got the blaze under control by 1:23p.m., authorities said. There were no other injuries.
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