Grandchild Dies in Hot Car

How Eight Hours Passed Before Anyone Noticed

The grandmother had been responsible for picking up the child from daycare and taking the baby back the next morning, according to WSAW. On the day of the tragedy, she drove to work and walked inside — leaving the infant alone in the car. No one realized the baby was still in the vehicle for the entire eight-hour stretch.

It was the father's attempt to collect the child from daycare that set off the alarm. When staff told him the baby had never arrived, he called 911, according to KCTV5. First responders rushed to the scene but could not save the child.

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Grand Jury Will Decide on Possible Charges

Police are still investigating the case, according to WIS TV. Once that investigation is complete, the case will go before a grand jury. The grand jury will decide whether criminal charges should be filed against the grandmother.

No charges have been announced as of now. The grandmother has not been publicly identified by authorities, according to Hawaii News Now.

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Hot Car Deaths Remain a Deadly and Recurring Risk

Hot car deaths happen more often than many people realize. A parked car's interior can heat up by 20 degrees Fahrenheit in just 10 minutes. On a warm day, temperatures inside a car can reach well over 120°F. Babies and young children are far more vulnerable to heat than adults.

These tragedies often involve caregivers who simply forget a child is in the back seat — a lapse that child safety experts say can happen to anyone under stress or a break in routine, according to KCBD. Experts urge parents and caregivers to place a bag or phone in the back seat as a reminder that a child is present.

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Owensboro Health Multi-Care Tied to Tragedy

The grandmother works as a doctor at Owensboro Health Multi-Care, a medical facility in Kentucky, according to KAIT8. The hospital has not released a public statement about the incident. The doctor's identity has been withheld as the investigation continues.

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