Lafayette police save child from locked car
LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) – A toddler is recovering Wednesday after being left in a car for at least 20 minutes, according to Lafayette police.
Police were called to the Tippecanoe Mall parking lot around 11:45 a.m. for a report of a child locked in a vehicle. According to police, officers were able to convince the boy who is either 2 or 3 years old to unlock the doors.
Paramedics determined the boy’s core temperature was 100.5 degrees. He was taken to an area hospital for evaluation.
Lafayette Police Lt. Brian Gossard said heat is different for a child than an adult.
“A child’s body temperature goes up faster than adults, so they will feel the effects of being in a hot car quicker than an average adult,” Gossard explained.
He said Child Protective Services has been notified.
“Even if the child is not seriously harmed, you could still be looking at [a] neglect of a dependent [charge],” Gossard said. “If it’s more serious than that, if we do have a fatality, it’s neglect of a dependent causing death.”
Gossard said no arrests have been made at this time, but charges could follow after the Tippecanoe County Prosecutor’s Office reviews the case.