Bronx toddler dies during hide and seek game

  Eyewitness News

(Bronx - WABC, January 25, 2007) (WABC) -- A 2-year-old Bronx boy died after spending the night trapped in a large rubber container where he was put by his older brother during a game of hide and seek, officials said Thursday.

Police say the boy, Anthony Pena, was discovered dead by his parents just before 5:30 a.m. inside the house at 3034 Albany Avenue.

Authorities say the boy was playing hide-and-seek with his 6-year-old brother and 4-year-old sister when they put him in the container to hide.

Eyewitness News' Stacey Sager spoke to one neighbor who heard loud noises come from the apartment Wednesday night, but still felt the incident was an accident. "I don't think anyone would want to hurt a two-year-old. I still think it's an accident."

The siblings reportedly closed the container, and the younger boy was unable to get out.

Police say he suffocated overnight and was discovered dead by his parents in the morning.

Detectives were questioning the parents and the siblings, but they say the death appeared to be a tragic accident.

The family has no apparent history with the Administration for Children's Services.

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