Child dies after being inside of a hot vehicle for multiple hours

VEYO, Utah (ABC4) — A 3-year-old child has died after being left in hot vehicle for multiple hours on September 1st.

The Washington County Sheriff’s office confirmed the death of a child who died after being left in a hot car outside an apartment building in Veyo. According to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, they received a call at approximately 6:11p.m. that there was a child inside a vehicle and screaming.

At first, it was dispatched as a 911 hang-up. However, dispatchers were able to determine that a child was injured. When medical teams arrived on scene, they found that there was an unresponsive three-year-old male child.

Chief Charles Guthrie said, “We were dispatched around 6:15p.m. on Monday evening to a child that was not breathing. One of my firefighters was first on scene. It was a child on the ground. Someone was attempting CPR. He came in and took over.”

Unfortunately, they declared the child deceased on scene. Detectives were able to determine that the child was left unattended after a shopping trip with his family. Washington County Sheriff’s Detectives and the Washington County Attorney’s Office are actively investigating this incident.

Chief Guthrie said, “It’s very impactful… it’s devastating to lose a child like that. And it just seems… it’s very, very difficult. You know, mistakes happen, but still, to lose a child in that way is very, very difficult.”

Officials are also urging parents and caregivers to never leave children unattended inside a vehicle. Chief Guthrie added, “It doesn’t take long. You know, it could be 92 degrees outside and 135 inside of a car and it doesn’t take very long. So, it’s something to always be mindful of.”

The incident is still under investigation, and no arrests have been made.