A 5-year-old boy left strapped in a hot car for hours under the Texas heat died on Monday.
According to the preliminary information from Sheriff Ed Gonzalez, the child, his mother, and his 8-year-old sister took a quick trip to get ready for the sister’s birthday party in Northeast Harris County. They quickly returned home to prepare for the celebration, and both mother and daughter left without checking the safety seat.
Gonzales wrote on Facebook, “They exited the car, saw the 8-year-old and assumed the other child was out also.”
The post also added that the 5-year-old could usually unbuckle and exit on his own. However, that day they were using a loaner vehicle.
After two or three hours, the mother realized she couldn’t find her son and ran outside to see him still in the car seat. The family called for EMS, and the boy was pronounced dead at the scene.
During the investigation, it is unclear whether the mother will face charges.
