7-month-old dies after being left in hot car, sheriff says: 'Devastating tragedy'
A 7-month-old has died after being left in a hot car in Tennessee, authorities said.
Officers responded Wednesday afternoon to a report of an unresponsive baby in a car at the Monterey Library, according to the Putnam County Sheriff's Department.
The baby "may have been left in the vehicle for hours, with the engine turned off and the windows rolled up," the sheriff's department said.
The temperature hit 81 degrees on Wednesday in Monterey, which is about 90 miles east of Nashville.
The investigation is ongoing, the sheriff's department said.
"This is a devastating tragedy," Sheriff Eddie Farris said in a statement.
"As temperatures rise, please take a moment and always check your vehicles," Farris added. "A simple check can save a child's life."
This marks the second hot car death of the year in the U.S., according to national nonprofit KidsAndCars.org. At least 1,172 kids in the U.S. have died in hot cars since 1990, the organization said.
