Recent fatalities in Washington, Texas, and Florida have doubled the number of child deaths in hot cars compared to last year.
In a tragic series of events, three young children died between Wednesday and Sunday after being left unattended in cars in Washington state, Texas, and Florida. These deaths have raised the number of hot-car fatalities to six for the year, doubling the toll compared to the same period last year, according to Jan Null, a California meteorologist who tracks such incidents.
In Puyallup, Washington, police are investigating the death of a 1-year-old child left in a car for about nine hours while the foster mother worked at a local hospital. The woman discovered the child around 5 p.m. last Wednesday after forgetting the child was in the vehicle. Despite rushing the child to the hospital, the child could not be revived. Authorities suggested the tragedy was an accidental oversight.
In Houston, Texas, a 4-year-old boy was found dead in an unlocked parked car on Friday, with a 2-year-old girl also in the vehicle. The 4-year-old was pronounced dead after being rushed to the hospital, while the 2-year-old girl was expected to recover. The children had been playing outside their home before being discovered by an adult.
In Palm Bay, Florida, an 11-month-old child was found unresponsive in a parked vehicle after spending three hours alone inside. The parents had been attending church services at the time of the incident. The child was rushed to a hospital but was later declared deceased. The incident remains under investigation by local authorities.
The deaths highlight the dangers of leaving children unattended in vehicles, even in seemingly mild weather. Temperatures inside a car can quickly rise to dangerous levels, even on relatively cool days. Authorities urge parents and caregivers to be vigilant in preventing such tragedies.
