An 8-week-old girl tragically lost her life after being left in a hot car in New Jersey, as the area grapples with a severe heat wave. The Ocean County Prosecutor's Office reported that the infant was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency medical services. The father has since been charged with Endangering the Welfare of a Child, according to a statement obtained by FOX29. High temperatures on Monday reached a scorching 97 degrees, contributing to the rapid escalation of heat inside the vehicle that proved fatal for the child.
Lakewood Township Police responded to the distressing incident on New Egypt Road shortly before 2 p.m. on Monday. The call detailed a child in cardiac arrest, reported NBC Philadelphia. As the emergency unfolded, the heat wave across the tri-state area had already been pushing temperatures into the mid-90s, with the interior of vehicles expected to climb even higher. Although how long the child had been left in the hot car was not immediately clear, the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office's investigation with Lakewood Township Police Department and Ocean Near County Sheriff's Office determined that the father's action of leaving his daughter alone was the direct cause of her death.
The father, identified as Avraham Chaitovsky, is currently facing serious charges in light of the incident. Undoubtedly, the case has brought forth renewed concern over the dangers of leaving children unattended in vehicles, particularly during extreme weather conditions. The Prosecutor's Office stressed that "The act of leaving the infant in the car unattended for such a long period of time was the cause and manner of the infant's death," as per a news release referenced by CBS News.
