Baby dies after being left in hot car for hours

A 9-month-old baby died last week after several hours of being inside a car in Florida, according to a report by Kids and Cars Inc.

The incident in Pace in Florida’s panhandle marks the first child to die in the state in 2021, and third in the country, Kids and Car Inc. reported. The nonprofit data-gathering organization based in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania focuses on preventing child and pet deaths associated with being trapped inside hot vehicles, according to its website.

On Monday, the Santa Rosa County Sheriff ’s Office announced its investigation into the Pace incident, according to a report by the Pensacola News Journal.

At about 7:45 p.m. Wednesday, SRSO responded to a 911 call in reference to an unresponsive baby in a parked car on the 4600 block of Ephrem Lane in Pace, the newspaper reported.

Deputies arrived to find the baby already out of the car, with pedestrians applying treatment to the baby, the News Journal reported. Deputies took over and gave life-saving measures until EMS arrived with advanced life support. However, the baby died at the scene, the paper reported.

Deputies learned the baby had passed away after being locked in the vehicle for hours, according to the News Journal. No suspect has been charged at this time, but an investigation is ongoing.

Children dying in hot vehicles has been a recurring tragedy in Florida. The state has the second highest total of child deaths associated with being inside a hot vehicle: 105 deaths since 1992, according to Kids and Cars Inc.

“About 56% of hot car deaths are the result of children being unknowingly left in vehicles and about 26% get in on their own and become trapped,” said Janette Fennell, president, of Kids and Car Safety. “This is a danger that every parent and caregiver must take seriously. It has happened to the most loving, responsible and attentive parents.”