Child Left in Hot Car While Mother Donated Plasma
On a Sunday afternoon, police in Florida reported that a 27-year-old woman left her 3-year-old daughter alone in a hot car for several hours while she went to a plasma donation center.
When the woman returned to her vehicle, she discovered her daughter unresponsive. In a state of panic, she called the authorities at around 4:32 p.m., as noted by a post from the DeLand Police Department on social media.
“I started crying because I didn’t think I would ever get her back,” the woman reportedly said in distress.
By the time responders arrived at the New York Avenue location, bystanders had been attempting to assist the girl, with one even performing CPR. She was subsequently transported to a hospital in critical condition.
The investigation revealed that the mother, Latana Williams, had left her daughter unattended for nearly two hours on a day when temperatures reached 84 degrees. The child exhibited symptoms consistent with heatstroke, according to the arrest report.
Williams informed the police that she had left the car’s air conditioning on and was monitoring her child via FaceTime on a tablet. However, the authorities suspected that the car’s ignition had been off during the period.
A bystander, Mark Tait, recorded the moment Williams found her daughter and described it as harrowing, feeling as though he was witnessing a child’s life in jeopardy.
Rosemary Royle, who performed CPR on the child, expressed relief, saying she became overwhelmed after the girl regained consciousness. “I started crying because I didn’t think I would ever get her back,” Royle shared.
Williams was taken into custody on charges of child neglect, a first-degree felony, although she has denied any wrongdoing.
Capt. Prurince Dice, one of the officers on the scene, brought attention to the situation, stating, “This is a reminder to always check the back seat,” and advised that travelers allow themselves ample time to avoid a rushed arrival.
Authorities have indicated that the child is expected to recover, but they did not release further details about her condition.
