Two teens found dead in a vehicle died from carbon monoxide poisoning and a third was rushed to hospital after tragic accident
- Dylan Roberts and Christopher Turpeinen, both 17, were found dead inside running vehicle in L’Anse, Michigan, on February 17
- Third teen, Hunter Pelon, 17, was found unconscious in the vehicle but has since recovered
- Toxicology tests showed deceased teens’ cause of death was carbon monoxide poisoning
- Baraga County Sheriff’s Office told DailyMail.com their deaths were accidental
Two of three Michigan Upper teens found unconscious in a running vehicle in February died from carbon monoxide poisoning, an Upper Peninsula sheriff has revealed.
The deaths of Dylan Roberts, of L’Anse, and Christopher Turpeinen, of Pelkie, both aged 17, shocked their small communities, especially the L’Anse school district.
A third teenager, 17-year-old Hunter Pelon, emerged from a coma three days after the February 17 incident.
Dylan Roberts (left) and Christopher Turpeinen (right), both 17, were found dead inside a running vehicle in L’Anse, Michigan, on February 17
Hunter Pelon, 17, was found unconscious inside the vehicle but has since recovered
WLUC-TV reported that Baraga County Sheriff Rick Johnson released the cause of the deaths after toxicology tests were completed.
The Baraga County Sheriff’s Office told DailyMail.com on Thursday that the victims died as a result of an accident.
A sheriff’s representative explained that the three friends had consumed some beers and decided to spend the night in the vehicle instead of driving home under the influence.
They backed into a parking spot and turned in for the night. Although the exhaust pipe was not blocked by anything, carbon monoxide somehow seeped inside the interior of the vehicle, according to the sheriff.
‘Both of these boys were widely known throughout the school,’ classmate Addison Mattson said in February. ‘They weren’t just friends to just one or two people. They were friends with everybody.’
The incident began unfolding at 4.15pm on February 17 when Baraga County sheriff’s deputies responded to a report of a possible drunken driver in L’Anse Township.
The Baraga Area Schools sent out this message last month addressing the teens’ deaths
Amber Pelon, Hunter’s mother, on March 9 shared this photo of her daughter (center) recovering at home following her release from the hospital
Upon arrival, the officers found three teens inside a running vehicle. Roberts and Turpeinen were pronounced dead at the scene.
Pelon was initially taken to Baraga County Memorial Hospital, then transferred to Green Bay hospital.
In the description of a GoFundMe page launched by a friend, Pelon’s family initially said the girl was not going to pull through.
However, three days later, Pelon regained consciousnesses.
‘A MIRACLE has happened!! While we were told the outcome was inevitable—Hunter is AWAKE today!!! Thank you to everyone for your help and support,’ an update dated February 20 read.
Hunter’s mother, Amber Pelon, said that her daughter woke up in the hospital that morning, was talking and was able to recognize everyone.
She has since been released from the hospital to continue her recovery at home.
‘She has a long recovery ahead of her,’ Jennifer Sauvola, the friend who organized the online fundraiser, has said. ‘She has blood clots in her lungs, deep brain tissue damage, heart damage, and nerve damage.’