3-month-old infant dies after being left in hot car outside day care in West Virginia
An infant was discovered dead in a parked vehicle outside a day care in West Virginia on Wednesday, police said.
Officers responded just after 3:00 p.m. at a day care in Morgantown, West Virginia after receiving a report of a cardiac arrest.
First responders were on the scene near a parked SUV when police arrived. Officers saw "a young child seated in a rear facing child seat in the back seat of the vehicle," Morgantown police said in a news release.
The unidentified child was pronounced dead on the scene. The State Medical Examiner's Office and local police are investigating the incident. Officials have yet to announce any charges or arrests.
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Baby was left in a hot car, report says
The circumstances surrounding the child's death were not included in the news release. However, as CBS News and WDTV reported, police said it appears the 3-month-old baby was left alone in the hot vehicle while the parent was working. It's unclear how long the child was inside.
According to Weather.com, Morgantown's temperatures were in the high to mid-80s throughout the week.
"The department wishes to express their sincere condolences to the family and friends that have been directly impacted by this tragic loss as well as recognizing the devastating impact such a loss is to the community," Police Chief Eric Powell said in a statement.
The recent incident comes as the number of children dying from hot car deaths continues to increase. Janette Fennell, founder of the advocacy group Kids and Care Safety, told USA TODAY that more than 1,000 children have died in hot cars since 1990.
"It’s our responsibility as adults to make the environment safe, that’s exactly what we need to do here," Fennell said.