A devastating incident in Santee, California, has left a community in mourning after a 2-month-old girl was found dead in an SUV on June 13.
The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department reported that the baby had been left in the vehicle for several hours outside a home on Settle Road. As per to the source sfgate
A family member discovered the unresponsive infant and immediately called 911.
Emergency responders rushed to the scene, and the baby was transported to Sharp Grossmont Hospital in La Mesa, where she was pronounced dead.
The sheriff’s department’s child abuse unit is now investigating the incident, urging anyone with information to come forward.
Child deaths from being left in hot cars can happen quickly, even on moderately warm days. On June 13, the afternoon high in Santee reached 77 degrees, but the temperature inside the SUV could have soared to 120 degrees within an hour.
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Jan Null, a meteorologist who tracks hot car deaths, emphasized that even relatively mild outdoor temperatures can be lethal inside a vehicle.
This tragic case marks the first hot car death in California this year and the third in the United States. Since 1998, there have been 57 such deaths in California, highlighting the persistent danger of leaving children unattended in vehicles.
Authorities and weather experts continue to stress the importance of never leaving children alone in cars, even for a brief moment.
One practical tip is to place essential items like purses or briefcases in the back seat with the child, ensuring parents check the back seat before leaving the car.
The community of Santee is grappling with this heartbreaking loss, a stark reminder of the deadly risks posed by hot vehicles.