Vermont Tot Left in Hot Car, Marking 16th Pediatric Vehicular Heatstroke in US This Year

A Vermont toddler is dead after reporting being left inside a vehicle last week in Milton.

According to the Milton Independent, the incident happened Wednesday in a business parking lot on Centre Drive. First responders rushed the child, identified only as an 18-month-old, to the University of Vermont Medical Center, where the child was pronounced dead.

CBS 3 reports that police have not commented on the cause of death, but sources reportedly told the outlet that the victim was found unresponsive inside the vehicle.

“This is something that nobody thinks can happen to them until it does,” Amber Rollins with the nonprofit Kids and Car Safety, told CBS 3. “If you got a lot of things going on and you jump in your car, autopilot kicks in,”

As CrimeOnline previously reported, the most recent death is the latest in a string of hot car-related deaths in the United States this year. According to Jan Null, with the CCM Department of Meteorology & Climate Science at San Jose State University, the latest death marks the 16th pediatric vehicular heatstroke in 2024.

Meanwhile, the Chittenden Unit for Special Investigations (CUSI) has taken the lead in the Vermont investigation, along with the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, and the Chittenden County State’s Attorney Office are also involved.

The story is developing. Check back for updates.

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