Tue Sep 10 17:11:35 UTC 2024: ## Anaheim Mother Arrested After 3-Year-Old Daughter Dies in Hot Car
**Anaheim, CA** – A 3-year-old girl tragically died after being left in a hot car in Anaheim on Friday, prompting the arrest of her mother on charges of involuntary manslaughter and felony child neglect.
The incident occurred around 4:20 PM when police and fire crews responded to a report of an unconscious 3-year-old and her mother, identified as 41-year-old Sandra Hernandez, locked inside a Ford Expedition. A family member discovered the pair, and it remains unclear how long they had been in the vehicle.
The child was pronounced dead at the hospital, with preliminary findings suggesting heat stroke as the cause of death. The official autopsy report is pending. The temperature in Anaheim reached a scorching 113 degrees Fahrenheit on Friday, with police reporting a temperature of 104 degrees when the mother and daughter were discovered.
Hernandez was interviewed at the hospital and arrested after being medically cleared. Police discovered several empty bottles of alcohol inside the vehicle. The investigation is ongoing.
This heartbreaking incident underscores the deadly dangers of leaving children unattended in vehicles, especially during extreme heat. According to KidsAndCars.org, a national nonprofit, at least 31 children have died in hot cars in the United States this year, bringing the total number of such deaths since 1990 to at least 1,116.
The tragedy serves as a stark reminder to always check the backseat and ensure children are not left unattended in vehicles, even for a brief period.
First Piper 