LOUISINA (KLFY) — Louisiana has been named the deadliest state in the country for child hot car deaths, according to data spanning over a decade.

Since 1998, there have been 1,031 pediatric vehicular heatstroke deaths in the U.S.

Ron Czajkowski, the Acadiana Region Transportation Safety Coordinator, expressed regret over the state’s ranking, citing geographic and weather factors as contributing elements.

“It’s really unfortunate that we get that kind of a spotlight shined on our state,” Czajkowski said. “But there are some factors that you can’t change. It’s our geographic location and the weather.”

Data from NoHeatStroke.org indicates that Louisiana averages 43.4 vehicular heatstroke deaths per year among individuals under the age of fourteen, significantly higher than the national average of 16.9 deaths.

These deaths often occur when children are forgotten, intentionally left or gain access to vehicles, with over half of these incidents involving children who were supposed to be dropped off at daycare or childcare services.

Trooper Peggy Bourque of the Louisiana State Police emphasizes the importance of the “Stop, Look, and Lock” campaign, which encourages drivers to check their back seats before leaving their vehicles.

“When you stop that vehicle, look, look in the back,” Bourque advised. “Make sure that there’s nobody back there and then lock that vehicle.”

In Louisiana, it is illegal to leave a child unattended in a vehicle more than ten feet away from constant supervision, with severe consequences including potential loss of life.

“There are absolutely consequences and laws that apply in that situation. However, I think the biggest consequence is that you don’t have your child to come home to anymore,” said Bourque.

Law enforcement urges the public to intervene if they see a child unattended in a vehicle, advising them to call 911 and ensure the child’s safety.

All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by KLFY. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat from a broadcast script into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by KLFY staff before being published.

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