Baby Left In SUV, Dies In Laurderhill, Florida

A baby died by being left in an SUV after the infant’s parents went shopping.

The death occurred outside an apartment complex in Lauderhill, Florida on Wednesday. Temperatures hit 91 degrees in the area that day.

The baby’s parents and four older siblings did not notice the infant wasn’t “anywhere around” until they were unloading groceries late in the afternoon, according to Lauderhill police spokesman Lt. Gregory Solowsky. Approximately an hour after the family returned home they finally realized the infant was not inside the apartment and went outside to look in their Ford Explorer.

The Laurderhill parents called 911 and began CPR on the baby, but the infant was unresponsive. First responders attempted to revive the child on the way to the hospital but the Florida baby was declared dead upon arrival, according to the Local 10.

“The family members opened up the door, saw that the child was unresponsive, immediately began CPR and then contacted the police and fire-rescue,” Lt. Solowsky said. “The family is very, very upset. The entire family. The children, the parents. But they are cooperating with us and at this point it looks like it’s going to be a very, very tragic accident.”

Local police officials told the media that the family is distraught that the baby died after being left in the SUV and said the parents have been cooperating with the investigation into the death. The five children in the family reportedly ranged in age between 11 months and 14 years.

The Lauderhill Police Department wants to remind parents that children are far more vulnerable than adults to hot temperatures and urged parents to keep a watch on children inside cars.

“As everybody knows, in South Florida, it is extremely hot and temperatures can rise exponentially inside a vehicle very, very quickly,” Lt. Solowsky added.

Approximately 38 children died after being left inside cars on hot days each years, according to a KidsandCars.com report.

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