Las Vegas Sun

March 19, 2024

Boy, 4, dies after being left in hot car for 2-3 hours in Las Vegas

Updated Friday, Aug. 28, 2015 | 1:09 p.m.

Area where child was left in car

A 4-year-old Las Vegas boy died Thursday evening after being left in a car in the east valley as temperatures outside sweltered around 100 degrees, according to Metro Police.

Police were called about 6:30 p.m. to the 4600 block of Welter Avenue, near Sahara Avenue and Nellis Boulevard, Lt. Will Huddler said.

The boy, identified today by the Clark County Coroner's Office as Seth Franz, was discovered in the car by family and taken to Sunrise Hospital & Medical Center, Metro Lt. Tom Melton said. The boy was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Seth had been locked in the car for two to three hours after his grandfather parked in the driveway with the windows up, went inside the home and accidentally left the child behind, police said.

The incident appears to have been an accident, authorities said.

Temperatures reached about 100 degrees in the area about 6:30 p.m., National Weather Service meteorologist Andrew Gorelow said.

Metro's abuse and neglect detectives are investigating the incident, which is standard operating procedure.

Police reminded the public to make checking passenger seats and flooring a habit before leaving vehicles unattended to ensure children are not left behind.

Sun reporter Adwoa Fosu contributed to this story.

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