A 2-year-old girl from Orange City died after she was left in the family’s hot car Thursday, according to the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office.
The girl’s parents found her unresponsive about 5 p.m. still inside the car and drove her to the hospital, where she was pronounced deceased just before 6 p.m., the sheriff’s office stated.
The family, which included the girl and two other brothers, ages 8 and 15, told detectives that they had returned to their Highland Drive home about 2:40 p.m. after having lunch in DeLand.
What we know:7 children have died in hot cars so far this year, 3 in Florida
The Sheriff’s Office Major Case Unit is investigating.
Orange City girl would be country’s 8th hot car death
Not including the Orange City girl whose death remains under investigation, seven children have died so far this year in the United States after being left in locked cars where summer temperatures can rise to 130 degrees. Three of the seven deaths occurred in Florida, the most recent in Palm Bay on May 28.
According to News-Journal archive research, the last recorded death of a child in a hot car occurred on Sept. 18, 2015, at Deltona Middle School.
Check back for updates on this developing story.