VICKSBURG, MI – A searing tragedy involving a three-year-old boy unfolded in Vicksburg, as officials report the child’s death from an incident involving a hot car on Tuesday. The boy’s father had left him in the vehicle while he was in the Family Fare grocery store.
Kalamazoo County Undersheriff James VanDyken said the incident seemed to be a heat-related death. He added that the case is under active investigation. This marks the 20th fatal case this year concerning a child left in a hot car.
In prior incidents of children dying in hot cars, charges are infrequently brought against parents or caregivers who unintentionally leave their children behind. It remains uncertain whether legal action will be taken against the father.
Kids Car and Safety, an advocacy group focused on child safety around vehicles, reports that 88% of children who die from hot-car situations are three years old or younger. Distressingly, over half of these cases involve a responsible and caring guardian who inadvertently forgot the child.
Research released by the National Highway and Traffic Safety Association states that children’s bodies heat up significantly quicker than adults. Unsafe temperatures can spike speedily, turning an overheated car into a fatal situation. A child’s internal body temperature reaching 104 degrees Fahrenheit can result in heatstroke, while a body temperature of 107 degrees can lead to death.
Automotive manufacturers are gradually including child safety features in their vehicles. Dashboard reminders about rear-seat passengers are one such example. However, organizations like Kids Car and Safety argue that these companies are not acting swiftly or taking substantial measures.
The same group also suggests that guardians establish regular habits and routines to avert the deadly scenarios of forgetting children in hot cars.