Three people died and two children remain in critical condition after carbon monoxide was detected inside a parked vehicle in Toledo, Ohio, on Wednesday. The victims included a grandmother and her grandchildren, according to city officials.
Accident discovered after flat tyre
The Ford Explorer had pulled over with a flat tyre into a parking lot. Victims were found unresponsive shortly after 11 a.m. local time, said Toledo Fire Chief Allison Armstrong. The woman’s son, who had been called to help, discovered the bodies, according to City of Toledo spokesperson Rachel Hart.
Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz said foul play was not suspected. Three victims died at the scene, while two children were hospitalised in critical condition. Their names, ages, and hometowns have not been released.
Carbon monoxide spike confirmed
Investigators started the vehicle with the doors closed and placed a metre inside. Armstrong told the Associated Press, “we had a high spike of carbon monoxide inside the passenger compartment on that vehicle.” The vehicle was towed by police for further investigation.
“They’re going to have to do some further investigation to see if they can identify how does that happen,” Armstrong said. “I think that’s an important piece of this that people want to know, and they should know for everybody’s safety.”
Mayor expresses grief
“Today, a family experienced a tragedy that no family should ever have to endure,” the mayor wrote on Facebook.
