Baby dies after being left in hot car for over 7 hours, authorities report

Authorities in Texas are investigating the tragic death of a nine-month-old baby discovered inside a hot car. The Beeville Police Department reported that the child’s grandmother left the baby in a car seat in the back seat at approximately 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday. The grandmother returned around 4 p.m. to find the infant unresponsive.

Following the grim discovery, the grandmother contacted law enforcement, as per CBS affiliate KZTV. The incident is under investigation and is being treated as a potential criminal homicide. Although no formal charges have been filed at this time, they are anticipated in the near future. The Texas Rangers and the Department of Public Safety are also collaborating with the police on this case.

The parents of the deceased child have been alerted, although it remains unclear where they were during this distressing situation.

This incident marks the third hot car-related death in Texas for 2024, and it’s the second case within the same week. Earlier, a 22-month-old toddler was left in a hot car near a local middle school in Corpus Christi after their mother, identified as schoolteacher Hilda Adame, neglected to drop the child off at daycare on Tuesday. The child was subsequently found deceased hours later, leading to the mother’s arrest on charges including injury to a child and abandonment.

This year has witnessed a total of 26 hot car fatalities nationwide, according to data from Kids and Car Safety. Since 1990, there have been at least 1,108 such deaths in the United States. Texas has seen a particularly alarming trend, with at least 157 children perishing in hot cars since 1991, making it the state with the highest number of these tragic incidents.

In light of these tragedies, advocates are calling for advancements in safety technology designed to prevent such horrific accidents. Janette Fennell, the founder of Kids and Car Safety, emphasized to CBS Texas the urgent need for “occupant detection technology” in all vehicles. This technology would involve advanced radar systems capable of detecting movement and even breathing, paired with rear alert reminders that can notify drivers if a child is present in the backseat.

The collective hope among supporters is that enhanced safety measures will help protect the most vulnerable and avert further unnecessary loss of life. In the meantime, families are left grappling with the devastating consequences of these preventable accidents, reinforcing the need for continued advocacy and awareness regarding the dangers of leaving children unattended in vehicles.

As the investigation unfolds, the focus remains on not only seeking justice for affected families but also ensuring that lessons are learned to safeguard against future incidents.

Source: CBS News