The remains of a 75-year-old woman and her 49-year-old son were discovered buried in a car just a short distance from a hospital in Rhode Island. This tragic event unfolded weeks after Winter Storm Fern blanketed the area with almost two feet of snow.
Irina Kozak and her son Stanisław were found deceased on February 11, when officials located their white Kia Sorento, which had served as their home for the previous year, buried in snow. Irina reportedly spent more than two weeks trapped next to her son’s body before she succumbed.
Days before the blizzard struck, they had parked outside Miriam Hospital in Providence while seeking shelter.
Irina reached out to a friend on January 28, informing her that she was stuck in the car at the hospital. The friend subsequently contacted 911, explaining that her son hadn’t moved in two days before becoming trapped.
According to the call records, a dispatcher relayed that Kozak was “incapacitated inside a white Kia Sorento,” unable to exit, while her son had already passed away, as stated by Providence Police Col. Oscar Perez.
However, the caller was unclear about the car’s precise location, only indicating it was in a park near the hospital.
Local authorities were dispatched to the hospital and searched the vicinity for an hour but could not find the vehicle or make contact with Kozak.
The case remained quiet until February 11, when the Kia was finally discovered in a parking lot adjacent to the hospital.
Officials remarked that the deaths appeared to be related to the weather, possibly compounded by pre-existing health conditions.
On January 28, when the 911 call was made, temperatures had plummeted to single digits, as noted by the National Weather Service.
Irina and Stanisław were among over 30 individuals who lost their lives due to the severe winter storm that affected areas from New Mexico to Maine.
In light of this incident, Perez mentioned that the police department is evaluating its response to see if any improvements can be implemented moving forward.
