Another child remains critically injured following the incident
NEED TO KNOW
- A woman and three kids died from carbon monoxide poisoning after their car got a flat tire in Ohio on July 15
- One other child remains in critical condition following the incident
- The cause of this incident remains under investigation but no foul play is suspected
A woman and three kids have died from carbon monoxide poisoning after their car got a flat tire in Ohio.
Authorities responded just after 11 a.m. local time on Wednesday, July 15, to the 300 block of Phillips Avenue following reports of multiple unconscious occupants inside a vehicle, the Toledo Fire and Rescue Department said in a release obtained by PEOPLE.
“Personnel from the Toledo Fire & Rescue Department and the Toledo Police Department arrived on scene and immediately began providing emergency medical care,” the department added. “TFRD’s Hazardous Materials Team also responded to assess the scene and ensure the area was safe for first responders and the public.”
Officials said five victims, including four children, were removed from the car and transported to a local hospital.
On Thursday, July 16, police confirmed to PEOPLE that an additional child had “tragically succumbed to their injuries,” while one remained hospitalized in critical condition.
The incident happened after the group pulled over in Toledo due to the flat tire, CBS affiliate WTOL and ABC station WTVG reported.
The children’s father arrived at the scene and found all five victims unconscious, according to the reports. None of the victims have been identified at this time, although WTVG said officials have said the woman was the children’s grandmother.
“They started rendering life saving treatments to all the patients as we call more crews to the scene and had a hazmat response because we didn’t know what we were dealing with,” Toledo Fire Chief Allison Armstrong told WTVG.
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Armstrong told the station that the hot weather worsened the situation for those involved.
“The weather is very hot. That’s not only challenging for the responders, but for the patients themselves. We do the best we can to try and get them into shade or get them into an ambulance to get them out of the elements,” she said.
“Unfortunately, with this scene, that just wasn’t possible as quickly as we would have liked,” the fire chief added.
“The cause of this incident remains under investigation,” the Toledo Fire and Rescue Department said. “Investigators continue to process the scene and gather evidence to determine the circumstances surrounding this tragedy.”
However, no foul play is suspected, WTVG reported.
