GREENSBURG, Pa.,None — Police said two sisters passed out in a minivan with the engine running, leaving a baby unattended.
Investigators said the incident happened outside of a convenience store on West Pittsburgh Street in Greensburg.
"The call reported that there was a blue Pontiac van in the parking lot with two females either sleeping or unconscious with a newborn child in the backseat," said Greensburg Police Chief Walter Lyons.
Channel 11's news exchange partners at TribLIVE said sisters Jamie and Tonya Dickant told police that they took a dose of methadone before they went to the store.
Investigators said the newborn child could have died because the baby's mother was slumped over the child and could have suffocated her.
Police said several employees and customers saw the child inside of the van and tried to wake the women up. The police chief said the first officer to arrive at the scene opened the van's door and had to shake the sisters to wake them up.
The women's sister spoke to Channel 11 News on Wednesday. Crystal Marshe said the two were exhausted and pulled into the Sunoco to sleep.
"When I got down there both of my sisters were coherent and alert. Both of them," Marshe said.
Police said both sisters took methadone and Jamie Dickant was slumped over her baby. Dickant is charged with endangering the welfare of a child. Tonya Dickant is charged with DUI.
Both women are expected to appear in court on Nov. 17.
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