BATON ROUGE — An infant has died after being left inside a car as temperatures soared to nearly 100° on Tuesday. The official results of an autopsy are pending toxicology and further studies and tests. After those are all completed, the cause and manner of death on the baby boy will be released.
*UWK is making an editorial decision not to release the infant’s name due to no charges filed against the parent at this time*
The nine-month-old baby boy was reportedly forgotten inside a vehicle on E. Tom Stokes Ct., a small business and residential area off Perkins Rd. near Siegen Ln. Sources say the infant was never dropped off at daycare Tuesday morning, and when one of the baby’s parents went to pick him up from daycare, they realized the baby was not there.
UWK is told that the baby was found in the backseat of the other parent’s vehicle around 4:30 p.m. Tuesday and had been in the car all day.
No charges have been filed at this time as the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office’s investigation is ongoing.
The high temperature in Baton Rouge on Tuesday was 95°, with the heat index swelling to nearly 110°, prompting the National Weather Service to issue an excessive heat advisory.
With heat indexes this high, experts say that after only 10 minutes, the temperature inside a vehicle can rise to 114°. After 20 minutes, it can reach 124°, and after just an hour, it can climb to nearly 140°.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 700 children left in cars died from heatstroke from 1998 to 2016. And of those deaths, 376 were children “forgotten” by a caregiver.
How to prevent hot car deaths
- Put something in the backseat, like a phone, purse or ID
- Use a large stuffed animal as a car seat reminder
- Keep your car keys or fob out of reach of children
- Use an Airtag and put it in a diaper bag
- Always lock the doors to prevent curious kids from getting inside
This is a developing story. As soon as more details are provided, the story will be updated. Check back often for new information.
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One Response
When I read this story my mind goes to the baby and try to imagine how the baby struggled all day. How long did the baby cry and scream? When did the baby just couldn’t cry anymore. How much sweat was pouring from the baby’s body until the baby could sweat no more from being dehydrated. No one came for the baby, hour by hour ….. waiting for help! The soiled diaper worn all day, the hunger, the thirst needing milk …. Where is mom, terrified and screaming and held down from the safety prison belt…. Until death came stopping the torment!