Second Child in Three Days Dies in Hot Car in Texas

The Galveston, Texas Police Department reported the latest child death due to being left behind in a hot car. Image: Galveston Texas Police Department

Tragedy has hit the Lonestar State for the second time in three days: a child was forgotten in a car and left to die in the hot afternoon sun in Galveston.

According to the Galveston, Texas Police Department, the child’s parent arrived at work at 11am on Saturday and forgot the 1 year old boy behind. Five hours later, the child’s parent returned to their Chevrolet Tahoe to find the boy non-responsive. According to the National Weather Service, temperatures rose into the low to mid 90’s yesterday at the time of this instance. Based on that outdoor temperature, the temperature inside the car was likely in the low/mid 130s.

The National Weather Service has embarked on a "Look before you lock" campaign to make sure you don't leave behind any children or pets when you lock your car. Image: NWS — The National Weather Service has embarked on a “Look before you lock” campaign to make sure you don’t leave behind any children or pets when you lock your car. Image: NWS

First responders at the scene sent the boy to the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, where he was pronounced dead.

Authorities in Texas have yet to reveal the identity of the parent(s) or child.

The boy died just days after another child was left behind in a hot car in Aubrey,Texas. That 4-year-old found earlier this week died yesterday at the hospital. Police did not release the child’s gender, name, or parent’s name yet. An autopsy will be performed by the Dallas County Medical Examiner; the child had been receiving treatment for heat exposure at the hospital since it was found on Thursday.

On average, 1 child dies in a hot car every 8 days in America.