9-month-old girl dies after being left in hot car in Baytown

Detectives with the Harris County Sheriff's Office investigate the death of a 9-month-old girl who was left in a hot car Monday, June 4, 2018. Detectives with the Harris County Sheriff's Office investigate the death of a 9-month-old girl who was left in a hot car Monday, June 4, 2018. Photo: Jay R. Jordan Photo: Jay R. Jordan Image 1 of / 12 Caption Close 9-month-old girl dies after being left in hot car in Baytown 1 / 12 Back to Gallery

An infant has died after being left in a hot truck for as many as three hours Monday near Baytown.

Authorities were called to the 3100 block of East Jones Road, near Baytown, Monday around 2:30 p.m. to reports of a 9-month-old girl who was left unattended inside a truck for "an extended period of time," according to the Harris County Sheriff's Office.

The parents allegedly drove home around 11 a.m. and left the girl unattended in the truck, each assuming the other had brought her in, according to Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez. The parents were taking care of their other child's medical needs when the 9-month-old was forgotten, Gonzalez added.

"When they arrived home, in the hustle and bustle of getting kids out and attending to other things, they apparently forgot the 9-month-old was left inside the vehicle," Gonzalez said. "It's a tragic outcome, one we see too often."

The parents only recognized the baby was not inside their home when they could not hear her making any noise, Gonzalez said.

The child was rushed to the San Jacinto Hospital in critical condition because of the extreme heat, authorities said. She later died.

The parents are cooperating with homicide detectives, Gonzalez said.

Neither parent is facing charges yet as the investigation at the scene and at the hospital continues.

"At this point, we have grieving parents," Gonzalez said. "We're sensitive to that as well. At the end of the day, it's a tragic outcome for everybody involved."

Monday afternoon's high temperature in Baytown reached 91 degrees with a heat index of 100, according to the National Weather Service.

Text CHRON to 77453 to receive breaking news alerts by text message.

Jay R. Jordan is a breaking news reporter at Chron.com. Follow him on Twitter at @JayRJordan.

Editor's Note: An earlier version of this story incorrectly identified the location of the alleged incident.

