9-year-old girl dies in hot car left by working mother
The child was found unresponsive in the backseat of a white Toyota Camry, parked in an unshaded area of the United States Gypsum (USG) plant's gated parking lot. According to Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez, the 36-year-old mother left her daughter in the car around 6 a.m. with some water and the windows partially down before reporting for her shift, which lasted until 2 p.m.
Temperatures outside reached a searing 97 degrees by midday, and authorities say the conditions inside the vehicle would have become dangerously hot within minutes.
Sheriff Gonzalez noted that it is unclear whether the mother checked on the child during the day. Authorities were contacted by the mother at 2:06 p.m. Paramedics arrived at the scene shortly after 3 p.m. and attempted life-saving measures, including CPR. The girl was rushed to Harris Health Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital, roughly 10 miles away, where she was pronounced dead.
'A nine-year-old beautiful little girl has lost her life by no fault of her own,' Sheriff Gonzalez stated. 'You can be sympathetic to her mother's situation, but it's never acceptable to leave a child in a car.'
The sheriff confirmed that the mother was detained, and charges are likely pending as the investigation continues. Gonzalez emphasized the dangers of hot vehicles, especially for children whose body temperatures rise faster than adults. 'Any amount of time can be fatal,' he said.
While the motive behind the decision remains under investigation, Gonzalez said the sheriff's office is looking into whether childcare challenges or family hardships played a role. 'Whatever the reason, you've got to make other arrangements,' he said. 'If you have hardships, work with your employer, your neighbors, your family, or social services. It's just not worth risking a child's life.'
USG spokesperson Kathleen Prause issued a statement Tuesday evening confirming the incident: 'A medical emergency occurred today at a USG plant in Galena Park, TX, involving the child of an employee. Our thoughts are with the family and all those impacted.'
She added that the company is cooperating fully with local authorities and prioritizing the safety of its employees and the community.
Medical experts continue to warn of the lethal risks posed by hot cars. Dr. Anthony Arredondo of Texas Children's Hospital told KHOU11 that once a child's core temperature rises above 102 to 104 degrees Fahrenheit, it can cause severe damage to the brain and organs. 'The longer they are in there, the worse it is,' he said.
According to the National Safety Council, an average of 38 children die annually in the U.S. from heatstroke after being left in vehicles.
The investigation by the Harris County Sheriff's Office is ongoing.
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