2 Children Freeze to Death as Family Sleep in Van and Run Out of Gas in Detroit Cold Weather: Reports

Two children have died and three others hospitalized after sleeping in a van amid Detroit’s cold weather.

A 2-year-old girl and a 9-year-old boy were among the five children who had been living in the vehicle NBC News reported. Their mother had pulled into the parking garage of Hollywood Casino at Greektown at around 1 a.m. Monday, Feb. 10, but ran out of gas some time after, according to Fox 2.

She realized at around noon that her 9-year-old wasn’t breathing, per CBS Detroit. After calling a family member to help take the child to the hospital, she then discovered her 2-year-old also wasn’t breathing. 

“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,” Detroit police Capt. Nathan Duda said, per NBC News.

The other three children — ages 13, 8, and 4, according to Fox 2 — were treated in the hospital but are in stable condition.

PEOPLE has contacted Detroit Police and Hollywood Casino at Greektown for comment.

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According to the National Weather Service, the Detroit weather was reportedly around 12 degrees in the early hours of Monday, with wind chills of 6 degrees.

Authorities confirmed that there will be an investigation into the deaths and charges for the mother won’t be ruled out, per CBS Detroit.

According to Fox 2, the mother was detained and provided a statement, however, she is currently not in custody.

“It has to be [investigated],” Duda told NBC News. “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.”

The family also lived on Detroit’s east side, but it appeared to have been a while since they lived there, according to Fox 2. Authorities suspect the mother and children had been living in the van for a couple of months.

People at risk of homelessness are being advised to seek shelters or churches for help. Duda also urges people to call the police if they see anyone sleeping rough 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, per NBC News. “We do care.”