Police have issued a heartbreaking statement after a 9-year-old girl died after being left in a very hot car for six hours, while her mum went to work.
The child was left to sit in the backseat of the scorching car while her mother completed her shift at United States Gypsum in Galena Park, Texas on Tuesday (1 July).
She was inside the white Toyota Camry with the windows slightly rolled down and a bottle of water from approximately 6am until 2pm when her mum returned from work.
The 36-year-old mother unlocked the car to find her daughter unresponsive, and contacted emergency services at approximately 2:06 p.m, officials said.
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The parent, who is yet to be named in the press, has since been detained, after it was revealed temperatures inside the vehicle are said to have sky-rocketed to an unbearable 36 degrees (97 Fahrenheit) throughout the day.
According to the National Weather Service, temperatures in the Houston area reached roughly 33 degrees (93 Fahrenheit).
Medics rushed to the scene, but were only able to arrive at the office's car park at around 3:15pm.
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According to ABC News, the little girl was then rushed to Harris Health Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital, located 10 miles away, but was tragically pronounced dead.
Investigators are now awaiting autopsy results before any potential charges are filed.
And now, Ed Gonzalez, Harris County's Sheriff, has issued emotional comments in a press conference, reports the New York Post.
He told reporters: “I don’t know if anyone checked on the child throughout the day. A 9-year-old beautiful little girl has lost her life by no fault of her own.”
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He said people could be 'sympathetic’ to the mother’s situation, explaining: “It’s never acceptable to leave a child in the car. Maybe she has to make ends meet, and keep food on the table, and work. But the point is that the risk of death or harm - there’s just no reconciling that in my mind at a personal level.
“You’ve got to make other arrangements, whether it be with your employer.”
The Sheriff added: “It’s just not worth it to put a child at risk like this for any particular reason. If you have hardships, by all means, work with neighbours, family, and social service agencies.”
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Kathleen Prause, a USG Corp spokesperson, also released a statement on the matter.
She told press: "I can confirm a medical emergency occurred today at a USG plant in Galena Park, TX, involving the child of an employee.
"Our thoughts are with the family of the child and all those impacted. Our top priority is always the safety and well-being of USG team members and our community.
Adding: "We are monitoring the situation closely and are cooperating fully with local authorities as they respond and conduct their investigation. We will provide updates as appropriate."
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Madison Burgess