Family recovering after suffering carbon monoxide poisoning in car

A mother and her young children spent New Year’s Day in hospital after being poisoned by carbon monoxide while driving in Abbotsford on Boxing Day.

The woman and her two children, aged three and five, were found unresponsive inside a their car, which had come to rest against a guardrail, apparently when the driver tried to pull over.

Police said it initially appeared to be a single-vehicle accident. Two citizens passing by called emergency services to the 33700-block of Clayburn Road at 8:23 p.m. on Dec. 26 and the trio were taken to hospital.

The mother and her two children aged three and five, were located unresponsive in a Toyota Corolla on Dec. 26 in Abbotsford.

Abbotsford police said the mother and the five-year-old child were released from hospital on Thursday. The threeyear-old remains in hospital in stable condition, but is expected to be released early next week.

Carbon monoxide is an odourless, colourless gas found in fumes produced by burning fuel. CO poisoning symptoms are often described as “flu-like”, and include headache, dizziness, weakness, upset stomach, vomiting, chest pain, and confusion. Prolonged exposure can lead to death.

CO poisoning in vehicles is most frequently caused by a vehicle being left running in an enclosed area. In these circumstances, CO can build rapidly to toxic levels, said Abbotsford assistant fire chief Craig Bird.