The community of Santee is grappling with the tragic death of two-month-old Diana Sofia Aleman Roman, who was discovered unresponsive in an SUV earlier this month. San Diego County Sheriff's Department responded to a call on the 10000 block of Settle Road, where deputies and paramedics fought to save the infant's life before she was transported to Sharp Grossmont Hospital, where she did not survive.
In light of the ongoing investigation, the Sheriff's Child Abuse Unit is piecing together the events that led to the baby's death as the County Medical Examiner's Office conducts its analysis to determine the precise cause and manner of death. While the community mourns, a reminder has been issued by the Sheriff's Department that leaving a child unattended in a car is not only dangerous but also illegal under "Kaitlyn's Law," which was enacted after a similar tragedy two decades ago. Regarding the necessity of hyper-awareness during warmer months, deputies call for the public to double-check their vehicles to ensure no child is left behind accidentally.
According to a statement from the Sheriff’s Department, preventive measures such as placing personal belongings in the backseat or agreeing on a protocol with childcare providers are simple yet vital. They are advocating for the public to lock their cars and keep keys out of reach from children, as cars can become fatally hot very quickly, especially for the smaller bodies of young children who can't regulate temperature as effectively as adults.
The Sheriff's Department offers free child car safety classes to assist with prevention. These sessions, led by experts trained by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, instruct parents and caregivers on proper car seat and seat belt use and provide critical information on preventing heatstroke within vehicles. With the number of incidents involving children and heat-related car deaths increasing, it is fundamental for community members to take action if they see a child alone in a car—dialing 9-1-1 and intervening until help arrives could mean the difference between life and death.
