El Centro Toddler Dies After Left Unattended in Hot Car, Father Arrested

A toddler tragically died after being left unattended in a hot car in El Centro, California, amid a severe heat wave with temperatures reaching as high as 114 degrees. El Centro Police responded to the incident around 5:30 p.m., performing lifesaving efforts before the child was transported to El Centro Regional Medical Center, where the child was pronounced dead. The investigation revealed that the child had been left inside a parked vehicle in front of their home for an extended period. The child's father, Jose Hernandez, 37, was arrested and faces various charges related to the death. This incident marks the fourth child death from hot cars in California this year and the 22nd nationwide, with statistics showing that children’s body temperatures rise much faster than adults, making them especially vulnerable to heatstroke. Authorities emphasize prevention through education and safety measures, such as never leaving a child alone in a vehicle and implementing rear seat occupant detection technology in vehicles.