Buckeye mourns loss of little girl in avoidable tragedy that's happening far too often

The tragic incident took place on Sunday afternoon in front of the family's home

PUBLISHED SEP 9, 2024

It wasn’t until around 5pm, nearly three hours later, that the family realized.

Buckeye, Arizona: The Buckeye community has been left shaken after a four-year-old girl tragically lost her life after being left inside a hot car for several hours. The tragic incident took place on Sunday afternoon in front of the family's home near McDowell Road and Verrado Way.

According to Buckeye police, the young child had accompanied her family on a trip to a nearby park. Upon returning home, everyone assumed the girl had exited the vehicle along with the other family members. However, it wasn’t until around 5pm, nearly three hours later, that the family realized she had been left behind in the sweltering car. In a panic, a family member called 911, but by the time emergency responders arrived, it was too late.

Temperatures inside your car can skyrocket to life-threatening levels within minutes.

First responders found the child unresponsive and immediately began life-saving measures, including CPR and a Defibrillator. She was transported to a nearby hospital, where doctors continued efforts to revive her. She was declared dead upon arrival.

At the time of the incident, outdoor temperatures in Buckeye reached 107F. Investigators reported that the temperature inside the vehicle had climbed to over 130F.

“This is not the outcome that anyone wants,” police said during a briefing at the scene. “The extreme heat we experience in Arizona is nothing to play with, and time is absolutely of the essence in these situations.”

In both 2018 and 2019 a record number of 53 children died after being left in a hot vehicle.

As the investigation continues, authorities have yet to release key details, including whether the child was restrained in a car seat or whether child locks were engaged in the vehicle. There is also no word yet on whether charges will be filed in the case

According to the National Safety Council (NSC) the number of child hot car deaths for 2023 was 29. So far in 2024, seven deaths have been reported. On average, 37 children under the age of 15 die each year from heatstroke after being left in a vehicle. Nearly every state has experienced at least one death since 1998. In both 2018 and 2019 a record number of 53 children died after being left in a hot vehicle.

Here are some precautions to take

Never leave children or pets unattended

Risk of Heatstroke: Temperatures inside a parked car can rise rapidly, even with windows cracked, leading to heatstroke or death within minutes.

Legal Implications: Many places have laws against leaving children or pets in vehicles unattended due to the high risk of harm.

Use air conditioning

Cooling the Interior: Keep the air conditioning running when driving to maintain a comfortable and safe temperature inside the car.

Pre-Cooling: Before entering, if possible, pre-cool the car by running the air conditioning for a few minutes.

Hydration

Carry Water: Always keep water in the car to stay hydrated, especially during long drives.

Avoid Dehydration: Drinking fluids helps maintain body temperature and prevents dehydration.