1-year-old dies after being left in vehicle at daycare

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) - Memphis Police Department are investigating the death of a 1-year-old child.

Officers were called to a day care on Thomas Street where a child was left in a vehicle.

The toddler was rushed to Le Bonheur in critical condition where he later died.

“It’s not safe anymore. It’s not safe anymore,” said North Memphis resident Ricky Nelson. “You see it happens every other year. Someone leaves a baby at daycare or in a car it’s happening everywhere.”

North Memphis resident Ricky Nelson lives in a neighborhood near the daycare. He says neighbors are devastated by the news that a toddler lost his life.

“It hurts me like it’s my baby,” said Nelson.

Per Memphis police, preliminary information points to a heat exhaustion death, but that has not been confirmed as the cause.

Temperatures reached a near-record high of 91 in Memphis on Thursday. With temperatures that high, the internal temperature in a car can reach over 130 degrees.

The day care is called Education is the Key Children’s Center; it has a capacity to care for up to 111 children.

One employee from the daycare was detained on the scene, but its unclear if they will be facing charges. As of 10:30 p.m. no one is currently detained.

Police have not confirmed any further details, but Action News 5 will provide updates as they become available to us.

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