Preschooler found crying in car as driver overdoses

A preschooler in Florida was found in the backseat of a van, crying as the driver slumped in the front in an apparent opiate overdose, authorities say.

According to Boca Raton police, a passerby spotted the child and the unconscious driver in the van, with its windows rolled up and the ignition turned off, shortly after 8.30am and called 911. 

When officers arrived at the location, which has been redacted from records, the child was crying and saying: ‘I just want to go to school’. Police records indicate it was the child’s fifth birthday.

A preschooler in Boca Raton, Florida, was found crying in the backseat of a van as Colleen Nichols, 30 (pictured), sat slumped in the front, in an apparent opiate overdose, authorities say

A preschooler in Boca Raton, Florida, was found crying  in the backseat of a van as Colleen Nichols, 30 (pictured, left and right), sat slumped in the front in an apparent opiate overdose, authorities say

According to Boca Raton police, a passerby spotted the child and the unconscious driver in the van, with its windows rolled up and the ignition turned off, shortly after 8.30am and called 911 (Pictured, Nichols with her daughter)

According to Boca Raton police, a passerby spotted the child and the unconscious driver in the van, with its windows rolled up and the ignition turned off, shortly after 8.30am and called 911 (Pictured, Nichols with her daughter)

When officers arrived at the location, which has been redacted fro records, the child was crying and saying: 'I just want to go to school'. Police records indicate it was the child's fifth birthday (Pictured, Nichols with her daughter)

When officers arrived at the location, which has been redacted fro records, the child was crying and saying: ‘I just want to go to school’. Police records indicate it was the child’s fifth birthday (Pictured, Nichols with her daughter)

Boca Raton Fire Rescue crews had to use Narcan to revive the driver, 30-year-old Colleen Nichols, a sign that she’d used opiates.

Authorities found a prescription bottle of Klonopin – a medication used to treat seizures, panic disorders and anxiety – in the van, reported the Palm Beach Post.

The bottle has been filled on Sunday with 30 pills. By Monday morning, there were only two pills left.

Nichols denied using heroin and claimed: ‘I must have blacked out. I’m under a lot of stress.’

Boca Raton police had to user Narcan to revive Nichols (pictured) Authorities found a prescription bottle of Klonopin in the van

The bottle has been filled on Sunday with 30 pills. By Monday morning, there were only two pills left (Pictured, Nichols)

Boca Raton police had to use Narcan to revive Nichols (pictured, left and right). Authorities found a prescription bottle of Klonopin in the van. The bottle has been filled on Sunday with 30 pills. By Monday morning, there were only two pills left

Nichols (pictured) was arrested on a child-neglect charge. She was released Tuesday afternoon from the Palm Beach County Jail on a $1,000 surety bond

Nichols (pictured) was arrested on a child-neglect charge. She was released Tuesday afternoon from the Palm Beach County Jail on a $1,000 surety bond

She told authorities she wasn’t sure where the child was. Authorities did not confirm the relationship between the child in the vehicle and Nichols.

Nichols was arrested on a child-neglect charge. She was released Tuesday afternoon from the Palm Beach County Jail on a $1,000 surety bond.

This is not her first arrest. Court records indicate she was arrested on a charge of child neglect with great bodily harm in September 2015, and completed a pre-trial intervention.

 

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