Toddler dies after being left in pickup truck

Tools

By Beth Boehne

Story Created: Jul 16, 2008 at 9:52 PM EST

Story Updated: Jul 16, 2008 at 9:52 PM EST

GREEN OAK TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) — Police in Livingston County's Green Oak Township say a 17-month-old girl is dead after being left unattended inside a pickup truck for more than two hours.

Chief Bob Brookins says police and fire crews responding to a call about 4:30 p.m. Wednesday found the girl unconscious and overheated. National Weather Service data show the temperature in nearby Howell was 88 degrees at the time.

Brookins tells Howell radio station WHMI that it doesn't appear any windows were cracked and both parents were home while the girl was in the truck. He tells the Livingston County Daily Press & Argus that family members are cooperating with investigators.

An autopsy is to be conducted soon.

Friday, Jul 18 at 1:55 PM A Mother of 6 in Goshen wrote ...

As a mother of 6, I can totally understand being scatterbrained. I forget a LOT of things. But, how do you forget about a toddler for 2 hours? 2 minutes? Yes! 10 minutes? Maybe, if your really busy. But, 2 hours??? I just don't get it. Loving, caring parents don't forget about their child for 2 hours. Especially, on such an incredibly hot day! I am so very sorry for this family. I can't even begin to understand what they are going through.

Friday, Jul 18 at 12:23 PM Anonymous wrote ...

leave the person in a truck. eye for an eye

Friday, Jul 18 at 12:14 PM mom of 2 wrote ...

I am a single mother of two young children still both in car seats they fall asleep all the time but i have never thought oh i will just leave them here till they wake up #1 how will you know when they wake up #2 too many things can happen as this story proves. I feel there is NO reason for a child to be left alone in a car EVER!! People dont even leave their animals in cars now days why would you leave your child????

Friday, Jul 18 at 11:17 AM to eric wrote ...

I totally understand what you are saying, and I agree we all do not know the circumstances of what happened. But, how can you not lay blame on the parents. This death could have been prevented. I am a mother of 3 and cannot imagine what they are going through. But to leave your child in a car, what excuse is there? Please let us know and maybe we can understand a little better.

Friday, Jul 18 at 9:48 AM A mom wrote ...

Hello to Eric, A mistake? When we become parents it is our responsiblity to act like a parent, one whom truly cares and tends to the needs of our children. We choose to take this role. There is no mistake in irresponsibilty in not knowing a 17 month child is in a vehicle for over 2 hours, who does this? This child is to young to know any type of circumstances. The parents are fully responsible for this tragic death.

Friday, Jul 18 at 9:19 AM Anonymous wrote ...

There are alot of ppl that leave their children in the car if they fall asleep and not think of what will happen due to the heat. I feel for this family, I am sure they loved their child as much as we all love our own. Don't judge ppl, it is sad and I hope they make it through this. God give them strenght when they need it, let their hearts heal.

Friday, Jul 18 at 5:36 AM Heather wrote ...

I have 2 children and I like another woman on here said am sometimes scatter brained (I think it comes with the territory of screaming and bickering kids) but never once have I forgot my children in the family truckster.....I forgot a gallon of milk though! That's being imperfect, forgetting kids is neglect and just plain STUPIDITY (actually words don't express what that is).

Thursday, Jul 17 at 8:03 PM Laura wrote ...

Eric, I'am sure that this is hard on all involved, but you need to understand that as a community, itis just as hard for us. We all care for our children and worry about thier safety all the time and I'm sure they did, but we just can't understand how/why they weren't paying any attention to this very young child. We also know they are going to live with this the rest of thier lives. But they will have life. This child won't.

Thursday, Jul 17 at 7:26 PM Anonymous wrote ...

Are they going to sell that truck? I need a truck.

Thursday, Jul 17 at 6:26 PM Eric Dahlgren wrote ...

The reason is that I know him and his wife. Both of them are good people who sacrafice a lot to provide for the family. I personally talked with the father today, who is absolutly crushed and has to deal with the fact that he let down his daughter by the extreme penalty of death. That is a horrible, life-long punishment. Why, throw him in jail? What's that going to prove. That a sober, religous, hard-working father can't make a mistake? He's already accepted responsibility, in theworstway

Thursday, Jul 17 at 4:55 PM Anonymous wrote ...

I will hold my 14 mo. old daughter a little longer tonight as I say a prayer for this child.

Thursday, Jul 17 at 3:53 PM Damon wrote ...

Eric, It sounds like you think no one should be held responsible or accountable. Why?

Thursday, Jul 17 at 3:32 PM Brianne wrote ...

Excuse me but how would you like to be left in a car for 2 hours?! Come on people! That's terrible! I'd have to say life in prison and that's that! Thank you. Dear Lord, Let that dear little girl rest in peace! Amen

Thursday, Jul 17 at 3:04 PM Eric Dahlgren wrote ...

Okay, everyone's getting their shot in on me. Listen, all I'm saying is that nobody on this forum knows these parents, nor the content of their character. I'm not saying it's acceptable at all, but "give them life in prison"?? I just don't know why people who don't know the whole story, or the people involved, have to say something about what happened. Everyone can come to the funeral on Sunday and see what kind of monsters these parents are.

Thursday, Jul 17 at 3:01 PM Carol wrote ...

No matter how you look at this story, it's horrible for every person involved. I can't even comprehend the guilt and despair that the family is feeling. May God console each of them with his forgiving love.

Thursday, Jul 17 at 2:43 PM Ashley wrote ...

One question..Did they ever wonder where there child was during this two hour time frame? I have a soon to be one year old and I get nervous if I can't see what he is doing after only a few minutes. How do you not notice your child being gone for two hours!?!?!?!?

Thursday, Jul 17 at 2:10 PM Barb wrote ...

I also felt like the others before I saw a story on the Today Show about this very topic. It interviewed parents that this had happened to and the guilt they live with every day. One was a principal of a school and her morning routine was changed for some reason and she went straight to work without dropping off her child at daycare. she then went to work and never gave it another thought. When she was leaving work, she made the gruesome discovery that she had left her child in the hot car.sad

Thursday, Jul 17 at 2:09 PM Laura wrote ...

Hey Eric, I realize that these people have lost there child, but they are responsible for their loss! My children are both over 18, but I wouldn't even think of taking my dogs someplace and leaving them in a car. Not for 10 min., not for 2 hours. Lets not bring the point that they are a religous, because religion doesn't have anything to do with this. They were negligent and now they hace to pay the concequences. Unfortunatly the little girl had to be the one to lose.

Thursday, Jul 17 at 2:01 PM mommy of faithy and gracy 2&3 wrote ...

I have a 2 and 3 yr.old, I pray to God this never happens to me, unlike all you perfect people out there who have it all together all the time, I find myself at times scatter brained. I dont know these people but cant begin to imagine the anguish of knowing I was responsible for my childs death. they will live with this forever. its understandable the hurt people feel knowing what this lil girl went thru her final moments and they wanna lash out and hurt the parents even more. its sad, very sad

Thursday, Jul 17 at 1:49 PM Linda wrote ...

Eric If that is your version of caring for a toddler you are sick and so are they! It is not an accident to leave a toddler in a car, windows rolled up in 90 degree heat with nothing to drink and be gone 2 hours. That is cruel!

Thursday, Jul 17 at 1:42 PM steve wrote ...

Eric - Yes I am above 2 parents who kill thier child in a car UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES!

Thursday, Jul 17 at 1:40 PM Mark wrote ...

Ok Eric, how would you explain why the child was left in the car, and how this is not negligent behavior?

Thursday, Jul 17 at 1:38 PM To Eric wrote ...

Because they are greiving parents does not negate thier responsibility to the child. Life in Prison.

Thursday, Jul 17 at 1:35 PM DD wrote ...

to Eric Dahlgren if this isn't stupidity then what do you call it? "they are very religious caring people" they didn't care that their baby girl was slowly dying in a hot vehicle. You are just as ignorant as they are. Yes, they lost their child but at no one's fault but their own. They will have to live with that for the rest of their lives and answer to God at their death.

Thursday, Jul 17 at 1:33 PM joe wrote ...

i just cannot fathom just HOW someone could leave a child in a car. I have children and have never left them in a vehicle, why, because I am an attentive parent and want the best for my children and family. I don't care how religious you are, this type of irresponsibility is a crime of manslaughter. Whom ever it was that left that child should be held in criminal court, no excuses, have fun in your new 8x6 idiot.

Thursday, Jul 17 at 1:08 PM Eric Dahlgren wrote ...

Knowing these people personally, they are very religous, caring people. This is a not an act of stupidity, nor does a lesson need to be taught by "locking them in a hot car", but needs to remind people of how fragile life truly is. The parents are grieving horribly and I am so proud of all of you who think you're ABOVE everything. I hope your two cent felt good because the truth of the matter is that a mother and father lost their child. Way to go on being insensitive and downright ignorant.

Thursday, Jul 17 at 1:07 PM Anonymous wrote ...

Sterilization. Seriously.

Thursday, Jul 17 at 12:29 PM David wrote ...

these people didn't deserve a child anyways. that's what they get. hopefully they won't breed anymore.

Thursday, Jul 17 at 11:38 AM sherry wrote ...

they should be charged with manslaughter then put in the truck with windows up and let them see how it feels

Thursday, Jul 17 at 11:29 AM Carolyn wrote ...

Neutor and spay those idiots so they don't breed anymore. Geesh!

Thursday, Jul 17 at 11:21 AM omg wrote ...

that is so sad. what irresponsible people. =(

Thursday, Jul 17 at 10:56 AM Mama wrote ...

Oh holy crap! You just don't "forget" your baby is in the car. Obviously more totslly stupid people who should have never bred! I feel sorry for the rest of this little girls family, so sad.

Thursday, Jul 17 at 10:41 AM Linda wrote ...

How can anyone be that stupid? Punishment should equal punishment bestowed on this child. Force them to sit in a car when it is 90 out with the windows rolled up and nothing to drink. Seems fair to me!

Thursday, Jul 17 at 10:40 AM charlie wrote ...

absoulutely no excuse for this...they should be charge with mansluaghter.

Thursday, Jul 17 at 10:11 AM op wrote ...

more press about the dogs than the poor baby in the hot vehicle with no air. how sad. i agree that this should be FRONT PAGE NEWS!!! we need to remind people how dangerous this is AGAIN!

Thursday, Jul 17 at 7:26 AM Joe wrote ...

If the outside temp was 88 then the temp inside the truck was 115 . Give them both Felony Negligence charges 25 years to life.

Thursday, Jul 17 at 7:06 AM bill wrote ...

This should make headline news in order to remind the public the dangers of leaving a toddler unattended in a vehicle as well as when the temperatures become dangerous.

Thursday, Jul 17 at 6:52 AM GS wrote ...

What a bunch of idiots. What was there ages and what were they thinking.

Wednesday, Jul 16 at 11:09 PM Laura wrote ...

Two hours!!!! What were these people thinking?? Both home, going on with there merry little lives while this 17 mo old is unconscious and overheated?!?! Did they forget they had a child? Yeah they had better cooperate with investigators. They have no excuse for this!!!!!

Wednesday, Jul 16 at 11:06 PM Susan wrote ...

OMG!!! Someone probably came home with her, she was asleep and thought they'd leave her in the car to nap and forgot her. But leaving the windows up is an invitation to disaster. Not to mention just leaving her unattended. Just one more example of stupidity!! RIP little one. THis happens far too often.

Add a comment

Name:

Comment: 500 Characters Left

Comments are moderated and will not appear on this story until after they have been reviewed and deemed appropriate for posting.

WSBT and its affiliated companies are not responsible for the content of comments posted or for anything arising out of use of the above comments or other interaction among the users. We reserve the right to screen, refuse to post, remove or edit user-generated content at any time and for any or no reason in our absolute and sole discretion without prior notice, although we have no duty to do so or to monitor any Public Forum.
Countdown to Digital TV:

WSBT Weather

icon
Current Temp 22
°
More Weather

On Demand

More On Demand

Stock Quotes
This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.

Tonight On WSBTFull Schedule

7.00
Wheel of Fortune
7.30
Jeopardy!
8.00
NCIS
9.00
The Mentalist
10.00
Without A Trace
11.00
WSBT News
11.35
Late Show with David Letterman

Question of The Day

Do you think Notre Dame should keep Charlie Weis?

E-mail your comments. We'll pick some to read during WSBT News at 5.

  • Yes
  • No