Three Children Die Of Heat In Trunk Of Car

GALLUP, N.M. - Relatives drove around their neighborhood for up to an hour searching for four young cousins before discovering they were locked in the trunk of the car, suffocating and dying from the heat.

Two boys, ages 3 and 4, and a 2-year-old girl were pronounced dead Monday night after being pulled from the trunk. A 6-year-old girl was in critical condition yesterday.

Police were treating the case as a tragic accident. Autopsies were planned, but police attributed the children's deaths to heat and asphyxiation.

"They're the sweetest kids," said Jimmy Rohan, their uncle. "They were always together."

The children apparently climbed into the trunk to play after Manuel Rohan, 24, the father of two of the children, left it open after removing a dead car battery he was going to charge, Lt. Craig Meo said. Police believe the children closed the trunk themselves.

About 20 minutes passed before the relatives noticed the children were missing and got in a car to search for them in nearby parks and playgrounds.

They drove for up to an hour before the children's 13-year-old aunt finally found them. She popped the trunk after hearing a gasp while she sat in the car listening to the radio, Meo said.

The children who died were Brianna Rohan, 2, Steven Dawson, 4, and their cousin, Ramon Torrez, 3. Christina Rohan, 6, was in critical condition.