HINGHAM, MASS. (WHDH) - A Brockton mother is accused of leaving her 22-month-old alone in a hot car in Hingham on Monday.
Hingham police have not yet released the name of the mother due to no charges formally being filed.
On Monday, around 2:31 p.m., officers responded to a Whole Foods parking lot on Derby Street for reports of a child alone in a car seat of a locked car.
Police say all the windows were closed, the engine was off, and the sun roof was open. A couple saw the child in distress, profusely sweating, and climbed through the sun roof to save the child.
“She was very hot, but once she was out of the car calmed down. We had water in my car and gave her water,” the woman who helped rescue the child said.
Police arrived as the child was being removed from the car, and was taken to South Shore Hospital by ambulance.
Police say the mother told them the child was napping and she was checking on the child in between shopping at several stores. The temperature at the time was 73 degrees and sunny outside.
“Seventy three is the perfect temperature if you’re outside, but if you’re inside a closed place surrounded by glass, all the windows were up, then that temperature’s going to increase,” said Hingham Police Lieutenant Steven Dearth. “The sun’s beating on the car through the windows, the ventillation’s not there, so the temperature’s going to increase significantly.”
The couple hopes this close call serves as a reminder for others.
“I’m glad that we got there,” the woman said. “I’m glad we got her out. That can be a very deadly situation.”
A court hearing date has not yet been set.
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