Last updated Jul 11, 2025

A sad story from California left one toddler dead and another child hospitalized after their mother allegedly left them alone in a hot car. The incident is sadly something that happens often across the USA in summer. Read on for more details.

According to The Sun US, police in San Bernardino County were called out on Tuesday, after reports came in about two unresponsive children in a vehicle. Despite efforts to save them, one child, aged one, was pronounced dead at the scene. Her sibling, a 2-year-old boy, was found alive but in critical condition and was rushed to the hospital.

The outlet noted  that the children’s mother, 34-year-old Angelica Yvette Vasquez, is accused of intentionally leaving the toddlers inside the car for “nearly two hours.” Allegedly, she went for treatment at a spa. Meanwhile, the car was parked outside a business on a hot day, with temperatures reportedly soaring above 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

Law enforcement officials said that “The car had reportedly been left running with the air conditioning set to 60 degrees.” However, the car automatically shut down the air conditioning after one hour.

Strapped into their seats, neither child could get out. It happened despite the spa telling the mom that the kids could wait inside the premises. Now, the mother has been charged with “involuntary manslaughter and child cruelty” and is being held on over $1 million bail.

People tried to assist when the kids were discovered, but it was too late for the one-year-old. Meanwhile, the boy isn’t well at all. The hot car sat in an unshaded area in full view of the sun, which was caught on camera.

The tragedy is, unfortunately, not an isolated one and penalties can be severe. We reported in May that former NFL player Adarius Taylor was also arrested earlier this year after allegedly leaving a child unattended in a hot vehicle. In both cases, the result was emergency intervention and a reminder to parents of just how quickly heatstroke can turn deadly.

Summer is peak season for hot car incidents, and experts repeatedly warn that children and pets are in danger. In just minutes, cars can heat up fast and become extremely dangerous.

We also reported on safety tips and noted that the best way to prevent these tragedies is through constant awareness. Parents and caregivers are urged to never leave a child, or a pet, locked inside a car and walk away from them.

Vasquez is currently in custody as her case moves through the legal system. Meanwhile, community members who tried to help were left traumatized. If you see a child locked in a hot car, please never hesitate to call 911 for help.

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