A Florida woman, aged 63, was arrested in Volusia County after leaving her 2-year-old grandchild unattended in a hot car while she went grocery shopping at Publix. The incident occurred on Tuesday at a Publix store in Ormond Beach.
The woman, identified as Elena Grady, was charged with neglect of a child causing bodily harm and was booked into the Volusia County Branch Jail. She was later released after posting a $3,000 bond.
According to the Volusia County Sheriff's Office, deputies were alerted by store managers who noticed the child alone inside the parked car. The toddler was found to be 'lethargic' inside the vehicle, which was parked in direct sunlight with no shade and the windows cracked.
A Publix manager was able to unlock the car and bring the child into the store to cool down. Grady later retrieved the child but was located by deputies. Fortunately, the child was found to be in good health.
At the time the toddler was left in the car, the temperature outside was 91 degrees with a heat index of 101 degrees. The child had been alone in the car for approximately 16 minutes.
The sheriff's office issued a reminder about the dangers of leaving children in hot cars, stating that on a 90-degree day, temperatures inside a car can reach 120 degrees within 30 minutes and 138 degrees after 90 minutes.
The incident serves as a cautionary tale to always ensure the safety of children, pets, and vulnerable adults by never leaving them unattended in a hot vehicle, even for a short period of time.
