8-01-2023 10:20pm

Tragic Incident: Toddler Forgotten in Hot Car for 8 Hours in Smithtown, Resulting in Fatality

Samantha Hespos Editor

A devastating incident unfolded on Long Island, where a 14-month-old child tragically lost her life after being left unattended in a car for much of the day while her grandmother went to work. The authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding this heartbreaking event.

Suffolk County Police have launched an investigation into the incident that took place in Smithtown on Monday, July 31. The authorities are actively looking into the circumstances surrounding the tragic event involving the 14-month-old child.

According to the police, on that morning, a 54-year-old Greenlawn woman accidentally forgot to drop off her granddaughter at daycare while on her way to work. This tragic oversight resulted in the heartbreaking incident that followed.

The child was unintentionally left in the back of the woman's 2018 Jeep Cherokee in her car seat. Around eight hours later, when the grandmother left work to pick up the toddler from daycare, she tragically realized that the child had been left in the backseat of the car throughout the day. The devastating realization led to the unfortunate outcome.

After the discovery, the child was immediately transported to Saint Catherine of Siena Medical Center in Smithtown. Tragically, despite efforts, she was pronounced dead at the medical center.

Car temperatures can rise significantly even within the first 10 minutes of the car being turned off, increasing by around 20 degrees on average, even if a window is open. When the outside temperature reaches 80 degrees, a parked car can heat up to approximately 123 degrees, making it extremely dangerous for any occupants left inside.

The situation is still unfolding, and further updates may follow.