Carbon monoxide found in SUV where 3 died, 2 sickened in Ohio, official says

A family tragedy unfolded in Toledo, Ohio, where three people died and two children were hospitalized in critical condition after being found unresponsive in a parked Ford Explorer. Toledo Fire Chief Allison Armstrong confirmed the presence of carbon monoxide inside the vehicle, which had pulled over with a flat tire.

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we had a high spike of carbon monoxide inside the passenger compartment on that vehicle.

City spokesperson Rachel Hart identified the deceased as a grandmother and her grandchildren, who were discovered by the woman's son. Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz stated that foul play is not suspected, calling the event a tragedy no family should endure. Investigators are working to determine how the dangerous levels of carbon monoxide accumulated within the vehicle's passenger compartment.

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Today, a family experienced a tragedy that no family should ever have to endure.

This incident has drawn parallels to previous investigations into carbon monoxide issues in Ford Explorers. A federal probe in 2023 reviewed thousands of complaints and tested SUVs but concluded that a recall was not necessary. That investigation covered model years 2011 to 2017 and was linked to numerous complaints of sickness and some deaths. The model year of the vehicle involved in the Ohio incident remains unknown.

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They're going to have to do some further investigation to see if they can identify how does that happen. I think that's an important piece of this that people want to know, and they should know for everybody's safety.