Two children apparently froze to death while sleeping inside a van parked in a garage for a casino in Detroit, police said.
The children, a 2-year-old girl and a 9-year-old boy, were among five others sleeping along with their mother inside the vehicle on Monday. Detroit police Capt. Nathan Duda said they appeared to be homeless and living inside the van when the tragic incident occurred, just as temperatures in the area hovered around 12 degrees, with wind chills of 6 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.
The family pulled into the Hollywood Casino at Greektown parking garage about 1 a.m., drove up to the ninth floor, and parked, the Detroit Free Press Reported. The car ran out of gas soon after, though it’s not exactly clear when, Duda added.
By around noon on Monday, the mother noticed her 9-year-old son was not breathing, then called a family friend to take him to the hospital, according to the police chief. She then realized a second child was not breathing and called the person back.
“And so that person conveyed both children to Children’s Hospital, where they were pronounced deceased, with the early indicator being that they froze to death,” he said.
The three other children in the vehicle have also been hospitalized, thought their ages and conditions were not provided.
Duda acknowledged that while the situation is very sad, a criminal investigation into the matter is underway.
“It has to be [investigated],” Duda said. “I don’t think anyone really wants to think about that at the moment with the two children passed, but the reality is that the circumstances do have to be examined. We have to figure out how to go forward.”
He added: “I just can’t imagine what the family is feeling.”
Duda also highlighted resources available amid the frigid weather, including shelters, churches and other warming centers. He also encouraged residents to call 911 should they see others in need or suffering out in the cold.
“We’ll show up with all the right people to be able to offer resources, to transport, to feed, to clothe, to give that person shelter,” Duda said. “We do care.”