A mother in Texas was arrested on Tuesday after her 22-month-old child died when left in a hot car outside a Corpus Christi school during extreme heat. The 33-year-old, identified as Hilda Ann Adame, faces charges of causing serious bodily injury to a child and child endangerment/abandonment with imminent bodily injury, according to a Corpus Christi Police Department incident report.
The report did not specify how long the infant had been in the car before being discovered unresponsive. This year, at least 24 children have died nationwide from being left in vehicles during hot weather, including a 10-month-old in Louisiana and an 8-year-old in North Carolina, reported the nonprofit child advocacy organisation Kids and Car Safety.
The latest incident occurred around 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday outside Tom Browne Middle School in Corpus Christi, with temperatures exceeding 100 degrees amid a heat advisory from the National Weather Service. The heat index, considering relative humidity, made it feel like 112 degrees.
CORPUS CHRISTI | Hilda Ann Adame was arrested in connection with the death of her 22-month-old child who Corpus Christi Police Department officers say she left inside a hot car Tuesday. https://t.co/LRJUmFzrCv
— 12NewsNow (@12NewsNow) August 21, 2024
When officers arrived at the scene in the South Side neighbourhood, a school nurse was performing CPR on the infant, according to the report. The child was transported by ambulance to Driscoll Children’s Hospital and pronounced dead. Adame was arrested at the scene and questioned before being booked at the City Detention Center. Police did not release details of her interview.
Leanne Libby, spokesperson for the Corpus Christi Independent School District, expressed gratitude to those who responded quickly, including school staff and law enforcement. Counseling services were provided on campus Tuesday afternoon, with the crisis counseling team available on Wednesday.
This tragedy followed the arrest of a Louisiana mother two days earlier on a second-degree murder charge after her 10-month-old died in a hot car. The Jennings Police Department reported that Hannah Faith Cormier, 32, was held on a $1 million bond after her arrest on Sunday. Cormier’s baby died a day after she was taken to a hospital on 13 August, allegedly having been left in the car when Cormier was called to work.
Jenette Fennell, president of Kids and Cars Safety, stressed the importance of never leaving children in cars, regardless of the weather. “In the first 10 minutes, the temperature in a vehicle can rise as much as 20 degrees,” she said, recommending that drivers always check their vehicles before locking them.
“The biggest problem we have is nobody thinks it’s going to happen to them until it happens to them,” Fennell added.
What Other Media Are Saying
- Kristv reports that Hilda Adame, a 33-year-old Corpus Christi mother, was arrested for leaving her 22-month-old child in a hot car for hours, resulting in the child’s death.(read more)
- Caller reports that a 10-year-old child died after being left in a hot car at Browne Middle School in Corpus Christi, Texas, highlighting the tragedy and the need for increased awareness of the risks of heatstroke.(read more)
- Western Mass News reports that an infant died after being left in a hot car by the mother, who forgot to drop her off at day care, according to police.(read more)
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news
What happened to the Texas mother who left her child in the car?
She was taken into custody and charged with causing serious bodily injury to a child and child endangerment.
How many children have died in hot cars this year?
At least 24 children have died this year due to being left in vehicles during hot weather.
What should parents do to prevent hot car deaths?
Parents should always check their vehicles before locking them to ensure no child is left inside.
How quickly can the temperature rise inside a car?
The temperature inside a vehicle can rise as much as 20 degrees in the first 10 minutes.
What was the temperature like on the day of the incident in Corpus Christi?
Temperatures soared past 100 degrees, with a heat index making it feel like 112 degrees.