A father from Florida was taken into custody on Thursday related to the tragic death of his toddler, who was left in a sweltering vehicle while the father went for a haircut and a drink, authorities reported.
Scott Allen Gardner, 33, faces charges of aggravated manslaughter of a child and child neglect resulting in significant injury following the death of his 18-month-old son, Sebastian, the Volusia Sheriff’s Office announced.
Officers with the Ormond Beach Police Department assisted in Gardner’s arrest.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) advises to “never leave a child unattended in a vehicle for any period” and notes that “lowering windows or parking in the shade does little to affect the car’s internal temperature.”
“A child’s body temperature rises three to five times faster than an adult’s. When a child is left in a vehicle, that child’s temperature can rise quickly – and the situation can quickly become dangerous,” according to the NHTSA.
This incident is the seventh hot car death this year, according to the National Security Council’s website. (Volusia County Sheriff’s Office)
“In 2024, 39 children died of heatstroke in vehicles — up 35% from 2023,” according to a report on the agency’s website.
Sebastian is the seventh hot car death this year and the 115th child in Florida to die in a hot car, the National Security Council’s website said.
