Hot Car Death: Baby Dies After Being Left In SUV, Mother Questioned

A baby died after being left in an SUV outside a car wash and repair shop in Indianapolis on Saturday.

According to USA Today-affiliated IndyStar, the baby – age and gender unknown – was unresponsive when the police and emergency personnel responded to the scene, outside an AutoZone store, at around 4:45 p.m. EDT. The infant was found inside the car with its mother, while the person driving the car had gone inside the store. The person was not identified and his or her relationship with the victim was not known.

The baby was rushed to the Riley Children's Hospital where the victim was pronounced dead.

“EMS [Emergency Medical Services] transported the baby to Riley [Hospital for Children] where despite the best efforts of medical staff, the baby died," the police said.

The police sought a warrant to search the vehicle, which was parked a few paces from the entrance of the store. Homicide detectives were called on the scene and the deceased’s mother was being questioned regarding the incident. The body was sent to the coroner’s office for autopsy. Results were not expected until Monday.

No charges were filed yet. "This is still considered a death investigation at this time," Indianapolis police said, adding that a formal press release will be issued if the nature of the investigation changes.

According to Fox News, temperatures in Indianapolis reached 85 degrees Fahrenheit (21.4 degrees Celsius) on the day of the incident.

Last week, a Maryland woman was accused of leaving seven children in a hot car while on a shopping trip. One of the children in the car dialed 911 saying he and six other children, aged between two and four, were left unattended inside a car which was not running and the windows were closed. Officers responded to the scene and helped the children out of the vehicle. All seven of them were treated at the scene.