ROYALTON — The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office says a woman and two small children were found safe Tuesday night after sheriff’s deputies responded to a call of a vehicle abandoned at a home in rural Royalton Tuesday afternoon.

Sheriff David Bartoni says deputies found the vehicle and suspected by the items left at the scene, small children may have been present. Deputies were unable to find the driver or the children. Deputies believed that due to the nature of the circumstances, the driver and children may still be in the area and in distress.

Deputies began an immediate search of the extremely rural area and requested help from the Franklin County Emergency Management Agency. EMA responded to the scene with a drone to help in the search.

The sheriff says at 6:30 p.m., a passing motorist informed deputies that she saw a partially nude woman walking in a field with two small children. At that same time, the drone operator confirmed the location of the woman and children. Deputies responded to the location, and all three were subsequently transported to the hospital for medical attention.

The sheriff’s office along with the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services and the Franklin County State’s Attorney’s Office is investigating the incident.

The ages of the children are 6 months and 3-years-old. The identity of the woman and children are not being released.