Neighbors mourn tragedy of toddlers found in hot car

YORK TOWNSHIP, Ohio - Neighbors are mourning the tragedy of a Medina County family after two toddlers were found inside a hot car.

"It's a terrible thing and I just -- all you can do is lean on the Lord," said Cindy Pacl after learning the of the tragedy.

A day after two young girls were found unconscious in a hot car, killing one of them, police are calling the incident a terrible accident. Authorities have said that the children wandered into the vehicle themselves, and that foul play is not suspected.

"Little kids get in a car and you got that lock," said Wyatt Cheatham, who lives several doors away and spotted police and rescue teams down the street.

"No matter how many times you push the unlock button, it won't unlock, and if a kid gets in there and makes a mistake, hits the wrong button by accident, they're stuck."

One of the children died, and her sister is currently hospitalized in critical condition.

The children were in the custody of their grandfather at the time because their parents were out of town.

Medina County Sheriff's Deputies were called to home on Columbia Road in York Township around 7:30 p.m. Thursday after the girls' grandfather called 911.

The grandfather told dispatchers that the girls were missing and that he could not find them. According to police, when sheriff's deputies arrived on scene, they found the girls inside of a car at the home.

The 2-year-old girl was taken to Medina General Hospital and pronounced dead, according to the coroner. The other child, a 3-year-old girl, is currently at MetroHealth Medical Center. She is in critical condition.

The incident is under investigation by the Medina County Sheriff’s Department. The York Township Fire Department was also on the scene as well as a Life Support Team from the Medina Police Department.