Four Christiansburg residents were taken to the hospital Monday morning after falling ill from carbon monoxide exposure.

The Christiansburg Police Department, along with fire and rescue squads, were called to the 500 block of Oak Tree Boulevard shortly after 9 a.m. and found four men sitting on the ground outside, according to a news release from the police department.

Officials found a vehicle "inadvertently left running" inside the garage, according to the release. The townhome units on both sides also registered high carbon monoxide levels.

William David Akers, 32, Derek Kiss, 31, Russ Fox, 26, and Chris Bryson, 31, were all taken to Montgomery Regional Hospital. All of the victims were conscious and alert, according to the release.

Fire department officials ventilated all three residences and remained on the scene until carbon monoxide readings returned to normal.

-- The Roanoke Times