LAUDERHILL, Fla. – Lauderhill police are investigating after an 11-month-old was found unresponsive in a hot sport utility vehicle Wednesday evening.
Police told Local 10 News the toddler's family members went grocery shopping, returned to their apartment complex off Northwest 19th Street in Lauderhill, unloaded the groceries and, after about an hour, realized the baby was nowhere to be found.
That's when they went to the parking lot and found the baby inside the SUV, Lt. Gregory Solowsky said.
"The family members opened up the door, saw that the child was unresponsive, immediately began CPR and then contacted the police and fire-rescue," Solowsky said.
Paramedics took the baby to Plantation General Hospital, where the child was pronounced dead about 6:30 p.m.
Police wouldn't tell Local 10 News if the child was a boy or a girl, but they are calling the incident a tragic accident.
"Children are obviously much more susceptible to heat than grown adults, so it is imperative that the members of our community see what's going on here today and learn from it," Solowsky said.
The case has been turned over to the state attorney's office to determine whether any charges will be filed.
Under state law, any adult who leaves a child under the age of 6 unsupervised in a motor vehicle for more than 15 minutes, causing the child great harm, will be charged with at least a third-degree felony.
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