Day care teachers mourn late 5-year-old boy who was left in hot car in Mansfield
Share this @internewscast.com

The boy was the “funniest little kid” who was playful and a big fan of snack time, according to one teacher.

In Columbus, Ohio, a tragic incident occurred on Thursday afternoon when a 5-year-old boy was declared dead after being left in his mother’s car in a Mansfield parking lot.

Police responded to a parking lot on Marion Avenue around 3:15 p.m. and found the child, unresponsive in his mother’s arms.

The young child had been in the vehicle since approximately 6:30 a.m., enduring about nine hours inside. The temperature in Mansfield soared to a high of 91 degrees that day.

Olivia Kidd said she has not stopped crying since finding out the young boy was one of her kindergartners and day care students.

“My heart is just broken,” Kidd said.

She said the little boy, who police have not yet identified, was the “funniest little kid” who was playful and a big fan of snack time.

“He would tell me he loved me every day,” she expressed. “I will deeply miss seeing him at school next year, attending all his events, watching him play T-ball. I can’t understand how I could forget him. Truly, I will remember him in every aspect of life.”

The child would have entered first grade in the fall.

Perrell Cameron and Jessica Phillips cared for the child in day care since he was a baby, before he moved on to kindergarten.

“I have been looking at pictures all night, all morning. Just to know it was him is so sad because he was so energetic, so loving. For being 5 years old, he was so sweet,” Cameron said.

“He was a wonderful child. He really was,” Phillips said.

Reminders for parents and caregivers during hot days

Police are reminding parents to check their backseats before they get out of a car.

The Mansfield child’s death is the ninth hot car-related death in the nation this year, according to the nonprofit organization Kids and Car Safety.

Fifty-five percent of hot car related deaths happen when a child is unknowingly left in a car, the nonprofit says.

To prevent this from happening, Kids and Car Safety recommends implementing these habits:

  • Make sure your child is never left alone in a car.
  • Place the child’s diaper bag or item in the front passenger seat as a visual cue that the child is with you.
  • Make it a habit of opening the back door every time you park to ensure no one is left behind. To enforce this habit, place an item that you can’t start your day without in the back seat (employee badge, laptop, phone, handbag, etc.).
  • Ask your childcare provider to call you right away if your child hasn’t arrived as scheduled. 
  • Clearly announce and confirm who is getting each child out of the vehicle. Miscommunication can lead to thinking someone else removed the child.

Lt. Nicholas Davis at the Columbus Division of Fire says parents should not leave a child in a car, even for a few minutes.

“I know people are busy in their day-to-day lives and think, ‘Let’s run into the store for a quick two minutes.’ But then two minutes turns into 15 minutes, and 15 minutes on a hot day like today is deadly, especially for a child,” he said.

Detectives are continuing to gather the facts of the case. Then, prosecutors will decide whether charges will be filed.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
2 student pilots die in a midair collision in Canada

Two Student Pilots Lose Their Lives in Midair Collision in Canada

On Tuesday morning, a tragic accident occurred when two student pilots lost…
The Movie Where Justin Timberlake's Leading Man Career Ambitions Ran Out Of Time

The Film That Marked the End of Justin Timberlake’s Leading Man Aspirations

The 2011 science fiction film In Time has been trending on HBO…
2 men arrested in connection to deadly Macclenny double shooting

Two Arrested in Macclenny Double Shooting Case

Authorities have charged two men in the fatal shooting of Devin “DJ”…
House swept away as flash flooding hits mountain village in New Mexico

Flash Floods in New Mexico Mountain Village Cause House to Be Swept Away

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — People found themselves trapped in their homes…
Explosion in Russia's Kursk border region.

Russia Unleashes Unprecedented Attack on Ukraine with 728 Drones and Hypersonic Missiles After Trump’s Criticism of Putin

NATO dispatched warplanes overnight in response to Vladimir Putin launching hypersonic missiles…
U.S. Military Aid Israel: Funding IDF Projects

U.S. Military Support for Israel: Financing IDF Initiatives

The United States channels hundreds of millions in military aid to build…
It's Simple: Can't Speak English? You're Not Driving a Commercial Truck.

No English, No Problem: Why Clear Communication is Essential for Commercial Truck Drivers.

After traveling across Asia, particularly in countries like Japan and China, I…
A blurred image of a person standing near the back of a car.

Tragic Incident: German Shepherd Dies After Being Dragged by Car, Owners Face Vigilante Justice

THIS is the harrowing moment a German Shepherd is dragged to its…
Karoline Leavitt at White House press briefing.

Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt Denounces ‘Despicable Falsehood’ About Donald Trump Following Texas Flooding Disaster

Karoline Leavitt fiercely condemned accusations connecting President Donald Trump to the catastrophic…
Harris aide urged 'The View' hosts to ask again after VP flubbed question on differences with Biden

Harris Aide Prompted ‘The View’ to Re-ask After VP Misspoke on Biden Differences

A staff member for former Vice President Kamala Harris pleaded with the…
Impostor uses AI to impersonate Rubio and contact foreign and US officials

AI-Driven Impostor Masquerades as Rubio to Reach Out to Officials

The State Department is alerting U.S. diplomats about attempts to impersonate Secretary…
‘Below Deck’ Star Damo Yörg Gushes Over Steamy Kiss With Fraser Olender: “He’s An Absolute Babe”

‘Below Deck’ Star Damo Yörg Excitedly Talks About Passionate Kiss With Fraser Olender: “He’s Such a Heartthrob”

Damo Yörg has had “a lot of dudes” in his DMs ever…