In a frightening incident in Lufkin, Texas, a young child was rescued by police after being accidentally left alone in a car for nearly five hours. Thankfully, quick action from officers saved the child just in time.
As the weather in East Texas starts to warm up, the Lufkin Police Department (LPD) is using this moment to raise awareness and prevent such dangerous situations in the future.
Child Rescued by Lufkin Police After Being Left Alone in Car
The Lufkin Police Department shared in a Facebook post that officers responded to a call around 12:30 PM on Sunday about a young child left inside a vehicle in the 100 block of North Timberland Drive. When police arrived, they found a little girl under the age of five who was not responding to knocks on the window.
Realizing the seriousness of the situation, officers broke the driver’s side window and safely removed the child from the vehicle. She was rushed to a local hospital for medical evaluation. Thankfully, the weather was mild that day. Authorities warn that if it had been hotter, the outcome could have been much worse.
How Did This Happen?
After an investigation, police learned that the child was unintentionally left behind by a family member. The plan was for several family members to meet up and travel together to Houston for a sporting event. While everyone met in a parking lot and left in one vehicle, the young child was supposed to be dropped off with other relatives in Lufkin before they left.
Unfortunately, the driver forgot the child was still in the back seat and drove away, leaving her alone in the parked car for almost five hours.
Driver Arrested and Charged
The driver of the vehicle was arrested and taken into custody by Lufkin Police. They were booked into the Angelina County Jail and charged with abandonment of a child with intent to return. This is a serious offense, especially considering the potential risk to the child’s life.
Lufkin Police Share Important Safety Reminder
LPD issued a strong reminder for all families, especially those with young children. As we move into warmer months in Deep East Texas, temperatures inside parked vehicles can rise rapidly, even on seemingly mild days. This can lead to heatstroke or even death in a short amount of time.
Their message is clear:
“Check the back seat. Remind friends and family to double-check. These mistakes can happen, but they can also be prevented.”