The little boy was found dead after being left out in the hot car. This is the 19th child that has died in 2022 alone.
In a heartwrenching incident reported outside an elementary school in Mission, Texas, a 5-year-old boy lost his life after being left in a hot car, per PEOPLE magazine.
The little boy was believed to be unresponsive when discovered. He was found inside a car parked outside Dr. Americo Paredes Elementary. The news was confirmed by La Joya Independent School District Police Chief Raul Gonzalez. The boy was identified as a relative of a staff member at the school. An emergency call was made around 4 pm about an unresponsive child. Local officials reached the scene and performed CPR but the boy remained unresponsive, per NBC News.
"They attempted CPR procedures," he said. "Local [medical] personnel also arrived to assist, but their efforts to resuscitate the child were unsuccessful." Chief Gonzalez said.
The Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office posted a statement about the incident on their Facebook Page.
"On August 25, 2022, at 1606 hours, Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office Deputies were dispatched to 4 mile Line and Bentsen Palm Drive to Dr. Americo Paredes Elementary School in rural Mission, Texas in reference to an Assist Agency reclassified to an Equivocal death. Upon arrival, Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office Deputies made contact with the La Joya ISD Police Department who stated that a 5-year-old male was discovered in a vehicle, unconscious and not breathing. EMS arrived on the scene and determined the child was deceased. This case remains under investigation at this time," read the statement.
The Sheriff's Office also requested witnesses to the incident to come forward and share the details with the office or help guide the investigation with further details. The identity of the boy remained anonymous along with the identity of the staff member of the school who happened to be the relative and the owner of the car.
Additional details of the incident were revealed, and it stated that, on August 25, 2022, the temperatures hit 101 degrees in Hidalgo County when the boy was left unattended in the car.
"The La Joya ISD Police Department, the Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office and Child Protective Services are working together to conduct this investigation," Chief Gonzalez added.
Dr. Gisela Sanez, La Joya Independent School District Superintendent revealed that the little boy was a student in the district and described his death as a "tragic incident" in one of the press conferences. She also organized counseling services for students and staff at the school after the incident.
"I ask the community to keep the family, our students, and our staff at Americo Paredes Elementary in their thoughts and their prayers as they navigate through this tragic event," she said during the press conference. "I want to assure parents and our community that our schools are safe, This was an isolated incident," she added.
Sadly, this is not the first time such an incident has occurred. In fact, this is the 19th case in 2022 where a child was found dead in a hot car. According to data from Kids & Car Safety, this incident marks the 4th case in Texas alone.
As more and more cases are being recorded, the founder and president of Kids & Car Safety, Janette Fennell, is working toward making cars well-equipped with technology to make a vehicle safe for children. In a statement to KENS 5, she said, "We are committed to the push for occupant detection technology in all cars immediately. As we continue our advocacy, children continue to die week after week. It is beyond heartbreaking."
References:
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/5-year-old-was-left-car-dies-texas-elementary-school-rcna45077
https://www.kidsandcars.org/2022-hot-car-deaths/
Representative Cover Image Source: Getty Images | Guido Mieth
