3 dead, 2 children hospitalized after being exposed to carbon monoxide in vehicle pulled over for flat tire

TOLEDO, Ohio (WTVG/Gray News) - Three people are dead and two children remain hospitalized after exposure to carbon monoxide in a vehicle in Ohio, officials said. [CBS7]

TOLEDO, Ohio — A tragedy unfolded Wednesday morning when authorities discovered five family members incapacitated in a disabled vehicle parked alongside a roadway, with three ultimately succumbing to carbon monoxide poisoning.

Emergency responders received a dispatch call shortly before 11 a.m. after someone notified the children's father that the vehicle had suffered a flat tire. Upon arriving at the scene, the father discovered both children unresponsive inside the car. Authorities were subsequently summoned and found three additional family members in critical condition from gas exposure.

Medical personnel transported the two children to a local hospital, where they were admitted in critical condition. The three other occupants did not survive the incident. Investigators determined that carbon monoxide accumulation within the sealed vehicle caused the poisonings, though the exact circumstances leading to the gas buildup remain under examination.

Toledo Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz acknowledged the family's devastating loss in a statement released Wednesday afternoon, offering condolences as relatives faced an "unimaginable loss." He expressed hope for the children's recovery, noting, "We are praying for the recovery of the two children who continue to fight for their lives."

Kapszukiewicz commended the swift response of emergency personnel, stating, "We also extend our gratitude to the first responders, medical personnel, and law enforcement officers who responded swiftly and did everything they could under incredibly difficult circumstances."

City officials ruled out foul play in connection with the incident but announced plans to conduct a comprehensive investigation to fully determine the sequence of events. Authorities have not disclosed the identities of the victims or released updated information regarding the hospitalized children's conditions.