Mom ‘Collapsed to Ground’ After Her 2-YO Daughter Died in Hot Car | She Screamed in ‘Pain and Anguish’

A 2-year-old girl died in New Jersey on August 30th, 2022, after she was left inside a hot car for close to 7 hours. The toddler was found in the car parked in the driveway outside a Franklin Township home around 2 pm when the temperature outside was 90 degrees, the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office said in a release, according to PEOPLE. The officers and the first responders performed lifesaving measures but the baby was pronounced dead at the scene.

According to WABC, the parents were in agony when they learned about their daughter's death. The first responders tried to console the toddler's mother who had collapsed in the front yard. "They were just screaming in pain and anguish," neighbor Treana Huntley said. "And I heard the dad screaming uncontrollably and then I heard the mom start wailing, really sobbing," Huntley added.

Officers responded to a complaint about a child having a cardiac arrest at a Summerall Road home, according to the press release. When they arrived, a neighbor who works for the local fire department was already performing CPR on the unconscious child. So far, no one has been charged with a crime in connection to the child's death. 

"They're great parents. I've seen them be very loving and doting on their daughters." one neighbor told NBC. Huntley, told ABC, "It was gut-wrenching. It almost made me want to break into tears, as a mother. Just hearing that pain from another mother, it was very hurtful to hear. I wouldn't wish that on anybody." A third neighbor added that the mother collapsed and had to be taken to the hospital in an ambulance. "How can that happen? How do you forget? I guess we’re all forgetful, I’ve forgotten things in the car. But how do you forget the toddler, you know? I don’t know," said neighbor Alex Krstavski.

Meanwhile, law enforcement officials revealed that it was unclear if the toddler was in a car seat. "Further investigation is on-going to determine the exact length of time the child was in the vehicle, and the circumstances surrounding the events leading to this incident," the statement from prosecutors says. “Authorities have notified the New Jersey Northern Regional Medical Examiner’s Office who will be responding to conduct the investigation. No further details will be released at this time while investigators conduct their investigation," Deputy Chief Frank Roman said in a statement. 

He also added that it is unclear if the vehicle was locked or unlocked. The car was towed away hours later, and a single bouquet of flowers was left in the driveway to mark the scene of the tragedy. It was also revealed that it is still unclear as to who was supposed to be taking care of the deceased child at the time of the tragedy. 

Including this death, there have been 22 such cases in 2022 alone, an organization called Kids and Car Safety revealed. Sue Auriemma, who works with the company, said they are now pushing for cars to come with a mandatory warning system.

"This is the kind of tragedy that doesn’t discriminate. It has to do with a failure of the brain’s memory, in many cases," said Auriemma. "Unfortunately the worst mistake a parent can make is thinking this can’t happen to them."

References:

https://people.com/crime/new-jersey-girl-2-hot-car-death/

https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/2-year-old-nj-child-dies-after-being-left-unattended-in-car-prosecutors/3844753/

https://6abc.com/child-killed-new-jersey-news-hot-car-death-toddler-dies-in/12183174/

https://abc7ny.com/child-killed-death-somerset-county-new-jersey/12180992/

Representative Cover Image Source: Getty Images | Pheelings Media