Missing 4-year-old found dead in hot car, Georgia cops say. ‘Loved to give hugs'
A 4-year-old boy vanished and was later found dead inside a hot car in south Georgia, news outlets reported, citing authorities.
The child was reported missing Sunday afternoon, June 22, from the Summer Trace Apartments in Metter, the Candler County Sheriff's Office and Metter Police Department told WTOC.
During a search of the neighborhood, authorities found his body in the passenger area of a car in the parking lot, the station reported.
The coroner's office was called at around 1:30 p.m., and the child was declared dead just before 2 p.m., according to WJCL. He was identified as Kameron Williams, WSAV reported, citing the coroner's office.
Authorities didn't say if Kameron was left in the car, or if he got in somehow and became trapped. It's also not clear how long he was inside the vehicle.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is handling the death investigation and an autopsy is pending, a department spokesperson told McClatchy News on June 27.
Areas of Georgia saw dangerous heat over the weekend, with temperatures in Metter soaring into the 90s, according to AccuWeather. The low on Sunday was 72.
Kameron's family described him as a 'very special kid.' He had autism and was nonverbal, but relatives said he had no issues expressing himself in other ways.
'He loved to give hugs and kisses to the ones that he knew, which expressed his love,' his obituary says. 'When he wanted something, he would grab your hand and guide you.'
Kameron attended Metter Elementary School, where administrators said his 'bright smile could light up a room.'
'The Candler County School District and Metter Elementary School are deeply saddened by the loss of Kameron,' Candler County Schools Superintendent Fred 'Bubba' Longgrear told McClatchy News in a statement. 'Our prayers are with the family, friends and the community during this very difficult time.'
Authorities didn't release further details but said the investigation is ongoing.
Metter is about a 60-mile drive northwest from downtown Savannah.
Hot car deaths
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that about 40 children die from heat stroke every year, 'either because they were left or became trapped in a car.'
Hot car deaths are most common in the summer, but they can occur at any time, the administration said. The first 'vehicular heatstroke' of the year typically happens in March.
'Leaving a window open is not enough — temperatures inside the car can rise almost 20 degrees Fahrenheit within the first 10 minutes, even with a window cracked open,' according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
If you see a child alone in a vehicle, officials said you should make sure the child is responsive and if not, immediately call 911.
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