News

3-Year-Old Dies in Hot Car When Parents Forget Him After Older Brother's Tee Ball Game

NewsPublished Sep 24, 2019
By Genny Glassman
toddler dies in hot carAlive 11

Two parents in San Antonio, Texas, are mourning the loss of their 3-year-old boy, who died after being left in a hot car on Saturday. The Ordoñez family had just returned from their 6-year-old son's tee ball game when the parents mistakenly left their toddler, Liam, in the back seat before heading inside. They only realized that something was seriously wrong later when they came out to search for him and found the boy unresponsive.

Police responded to a call at the home around 5 p.m., and when they arrived they found Liam's parents attempting CPR.-placeholder
Police responded to a call at the home around 5 p.m., and when they arrived they found Liam's parents attempting CPR.
Alive 11

Police responded to a call at the home around 5 p.m., and when they arrived they found Liam's parents attempting CPR.

My San Antonio reports that the family had returned home about 1 p.m. Saturday following a tee ball game. Somehow, in their haste to get inside, they forgot about Liam.

"This really was just a case of parents who just got distracted," San Antonio Police Lt. Jesse Salame said. "They discovered him unresponsive in the vehicle, pulled him out and began life-saving measures, but were unsuccessful."

Each parent believed the other had taken the boy out of the car but didn't realize he was still inside until hours later, the police lieutenant says.

Salame described the incident as a "horrific accident," and he confirmed Liam was pronounced dead at the scene.

The National Weather Service reported that temperatures reached 93 degrees on the day Liam was left inside the car. 

As of now, police don't consider the case a crime, though an investigation still needs to be conducted to determine if charges will be filed.

Tragically, Liam's death marks the 43rd child to die in a hot car so far this year and the sixth death in Texas.

Dr. Rosina McAlpine, CEO of Win Win Parenting, told Fox News that most hot car deaths are accidents. In many cases, parents "forget they haven't dropped the child off at day care or school and rush off to the meeting or work distracted, leaving their child behind," she shared.

"Later they remember in shock but often it is too late," McAlpine added, noting that in some cases caregivers have forgotten a child when they "are sleeping and don't want to disturb them in the hope they'll get back before they awake."

Temperatures inside a vehicle can rise at an alarming rate, which is what makes these incidents fatal so quickly. In fact, within the first 30 minutes, 80 percent of the temperature's rise will happen and temperatures inside a car can exceed those outside by  up to 50 degrees. 

Liam Ordoñez's death is yet another sad example of why it is never a good idea to leave your child in the car but also a glaring reminder that putting safety checks in place to prevent forgetfulness can save lives.

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