DETROIT — Authorities revealed on Wednesday that the tragic deaths of two young children in Detroit were due to carbon monoxide poisoning, rather than the freezing temperatures. The unfortunate incident involved Darnell Currie Jr., 9, and A’millah Currie, 2, who were found lifeless in a cold van on February 10. Initially, police suspected that exposure to the cold might have been the cause, pending autopsy results.
The children were part of a family experiencing homelessness, living in a van with five children and two adults, which was parked in a casino garage. According to Dr. LokMan Sung, the Wayne County medical examiner, the cause of death was determined to be carbon monoxide toxicity from the vehicle, classified as accidental.
In response to this heartbreaking incident, Detroit officials are investigating whether there were gaps in the social services system that might have contributed to the family’s situation. The children’s mother reportedly contacted the city’s services on November 25 to indicate that their temporary housing was about to expire, but after the initial call, there was no follow-up, and she did not make subsequent contact. Mayor Mike Duggan addressed the issue by pointing out the lapse in communication.
To prevent future tragedies of this nature, Duggan announced several policy reforms last week. These include mandatory in-person visits for families reporting impending homelessness, the establishment of a 24-hour emergency hotline, and routine checks on vehicles parked in potentially problematic areas. “This cannot ever happen again,” Duggan asserted, emphasizing the city’s commitment to preventing such incidents in the future.
