RANTOUL — A 2-year-old Rantoul girl died early Friday, and other family members were hospitalized, in what appeared to be a case of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Champaign County Coroner Duane Northrup said Kashara Riggins was pronounced dead at Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana at 5:52 a.m. Friday.

Northrup said an autopsy will be done to determine cause of death, but carbon monoxide poisoning is suspected.

Rantoul police Sgt. Marcus Beach said firefighters' tests showed a high level of carbon monoxide. Fire Chief Ken Waters said the source of the carbon monoxide was not yet determined.

Rantoul police said four other family members, including two other children and their parents, were also taken to Carle following a call for emergency services involving carbon monoxide early Friday.

Carbon monoxide is believed to have engulfed the home. A carbon monoxide detector was found in the home, but no batteries were installed, according to Beach.

Rantoul emergency services workers were sent to 1301 E. Briarcliff Drive at 5:04 a.m. Friday on a call involving carbon monoxide poisoning.

Beach said Gary Riggins, 31, had come home from work to find the rest of his family ill. His wife, Jamie Grice, 31, was lying on a sofa in the living room, Beach said.

Gary Riggins ran to a neighbor’s home to call for help, Beach said.

A Rantoul patrol officer happened to be driving by the home and found the door open and immediately responded.

A 12-year-old boy was found lying in a hallway outside his bedroom. A 6-year-old girl was found on the floor in her bedroom. The youngest child was found in her bed, Beach said.

Grice was reported in good condition, but no information on the other family members was available.

The names of the surviving children have not been released.

The home is owned by Michael White of Kankakee.

Police and firefighhters left the home at 8:35 a.m.

Original article accessible here.