Grandmother Leaves 1-Year-Old Granddaughter in Hot Car for 8 Hours in the U.S.

In Long Island, New York, a 1-year-old girl has died after being left in a scorching hot car for 8 hours by her grandmother. CBS News reports, citing officials from the Suffolk County police department.

According to the police, the tragedy occurred when the 54-year-old grandmother forgot to take the 14-month-old girl to daycare and went to work, leaving the child alone in the backseat of the vehicle. Eight hours later, she returned from daycare only to realize that the child had been left in the car.

According to CBS News, the child was transported to the Smithtown medical center, where doctors pronounced her dead. The police have initiated an investigation into the matter.

According to data from the National Safety Council, as referenced by the news outlet, approximately 40 children die in the U.S. each year from heatstroke after being left trapped in vehicles. In many cases, parents or caregivers forget that the child is in the car.