In a concerning incident in San Antonio, Texas, a mother was arrested for leaving her three children in a hot car while she went shopping. The San Antonio Police Department responded to a call from a bystander who noticed the children inside the vehicle, which was turned off. The children, aged 1 month, 2 years, and 4 years, were found in the car after being left unattended for approximately 50 minutes.
The mother, identified as Angela Garza-Amador, claimed she lost track of time while inside a store. She was subsequently arrested and charged with three counts of abandoning/endangering a child. Garza-Amador was released on bond the following day.
A good Samaritan who noticed the children in distress took action by alerting store employees and assisting the children until first responders arrived. The temperature in San Antonio at the time was between 98 and 100 degrees, posing a serious risk to the children's health.
The children were taken to a hospital for treatment and were expected to be discharged the same day. Child protective services were notified of the incident, although there was no open case regarding the family at the time.
This incident sheds light on the dangers of leaving children unattended in hot cars. According to Kids and Car Safety, there have been at least seven hot car-related deaths in 2024 alone, with over 1,090 children nationwide losing their lives in similar circumstances since 1990.
It serves as a reminder for parents and caregivers to always be vigilant and never leave children alone in vehicles, especially in extreme weather conditions. The quick thinking and actions of the bystander in this case likely prevented a tragic outcome, emphasizing the importance of community awareness and intervention in such situations.
