Every summer, we hear tragic stories about children who are left in hot cars and die. Despite many warnings and tips to avoid such a thing, it still happens. Only a month into summer, and with many places in the country reaching record high temperatures, you would think that adults would be more aware of the fact that cars get incredibly hot, and diligently try to avoid the tragedy.
But somehow, the problem persists. This week, a 5-year-old boy in Omaha, Nebraska, was left alone in a hot car and died as a result. His foster mother was arrested in connection to his death.
More from CafeMom: A Neighbor Saved Our Baby From a Hot Car & Now My Husband Wants To Sue Them
The boy was left in the car for several hours.
Shortly after 5 p.m., the 5-year-old was found in the an SUV by a man and the boy's foster mother, Juanita Pinon, outside of the beauty salon where she works. Police were called to the scene. The boy was given CPR and taken to a hospital, but was later pronounced dead.
There are still unknowns.
Police told local news outlet KLKN, that it appeared the child was left unattended in the vehicle for βan extended period of time.β According to another news outlet, KETV, the police said that the boy, who was identified by a police report as Dionicio Perez, had been left in the car for seven hours. They are unsure as to why he didn't try to get out.
More from CafeMom: Recently Adopted 2-Month-Old Baby Dies After Being Forgotten In a Hot Car for Hours
An arrest has already been made.
Juanita Pinon was arrested and charged with child abuse by neglect, resulting in death after. "The suspect did not provide a statement to declare whether it was an accident or intentional," Chris Gordon, a police spokesman, told ABC News.
Employees at the beauty salon told KETV that Pinon was in her office at the back of the salon the whole time the boy was alone in the car.
The investigation is ongoing.
KETV meteorologists reported that the temperature at 5 p.m., when the boy was found, was 88 degrees. At that temperature, they said that it would only take about 10 minutes for the inside of the car to reach 100 degrees.
The outlet confirmed with the Department of Health and Human Services that the boy was in foster care. DHHS said that it is working with law enforcement on the ongoing investigation. An autopsy will also be performed.
