Child dies in after being left in hot car in Miami Gardens for hours
MIAMI – The Miami Gardens Police Department says a child died after being left in a car on Monday.
The car was parked within the gate at the Lubavitch Educational Center on NW 7 Avenue in Miami Gardens.
Police say they got the call of an unresponsive child just before 4 p.m. Monday afternoon.
According to CBS4 news partners at the Miami Herald, a father was taking his children to the center. He also works there.
He apparently left his 3-year-old locked inside for about eight hours on a sweltering day.
He did not realize it until late in the afternoon when, according to the Herald, someone who works at the center told him they had not seen his child all day.
The toddler was taken to a local hospital, where the boy was pronounced dead.
Police have not released the child or the father's names. There is still no word yet on any possible charges he faces.
"We are beyond devastated that we experienced an accident on the Lubavitch Education Center (LEC) campus today involving a private vehicle, which resulted in the untimely passing of the 3-year-old son of two staff members. This tragedy hits close to home, and many in our school community have been affected by it. No words can capture the heartbreak and sadness we feel.
A guidance counselor and therapist will be made available to meet with staff and students tomorrow and offer support as needed.
Our deepest sympathies are with the family at this time of great loss. We ask the community for their prayers and to respect the family's privacy as they grieve."
Rabbi Benzion Korf
Dean, Lubavitch Education Center
Florida ranks number two in the nation with at least 108 children who have died in hot cars in the state since 1992, according to Kids and Car Safety.
"As we approach the summer months, we get more and more calls for children that have been left in the back seat of cars or locked in a car and the parents aren't able to get to them. As the summertime comes, cars heat up very, very quickly and it could be a tragic event in minutes," said Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue Batallion Chief Stephen Gollan.
So far this year, there have been 10 cases of hot car deaths involving children. Safety experts suggest leaving something important in the back seat, like a purse or cellphone, so that you can check before leaving the car.