Jul 1, 2009 11:11 pm US/Eastern
Police: Toddler Left In Car For 9 Hours Dies
ELLICOTT CITY, Md. (WJZ) ―
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A 23-month-old girl died of heatstroke after one of her parents unintentionally left her strapped in her car seat.
CBS
Unimaginable heartbreak for a Howard County family when a toddler died from heatstroke after being left in a hot car. Emergency crews rushed to the scene in Ellicott City after the child was found, but it was too late.
Mike Hellgren has more on this tragedy.
Police say the parents had a different routine that morning. They didn't realize the little girl was left alone in the car. They say it was unintentional so the parents haven't been charged. The investigation remains open.
At the ritzy Oaks subdivision, tragedy struck as the sun beat down. A 23-month-old girl died after police say she was left strapped inside her carseat for nine hours. The girl's mother was distraught after finding her tiny, dead body.
"Right now this does appear to be a horrible tragedy but one that was very likely an accident," said Sherry Llewellyn.
A change in routine, investigators say. The parents have not been charged.
"We believe there was something different in the morning for the parents and their vehicles," Llewellyn said.
Neighbors heard the commotion. They say the parents are good people and are heartbroken.
This is the fifteenth case this year. Last year, 42 children died in hot cars nationwide.
The danger is real. Heatstroke sets in when body temperatures hit 104 degrees. At 107, it's deadly and internal organs shut down.
At 80 degrees outside, a car warms to 99 inside in 10 minutes and quickly heads into triple digit territory.
In 49% of cases, charges are filed against caregivers. Prosecutors get convictions 81% of the time. It doesn't appear for now that anyone will face any charges in this case.
For more information on hyperthermia deaths of children in vehicles
click here.
This child's death is the second heat-related death of the summer. The State Health Department just confirmed a 74-year-old Prince George's County man with cardiovascular disease complicated by hyperthermia was found inside a home with an indoor temperature of more than 99 degrees.
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Information On Hyperthermia Deaths Of Children In Vehicles
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