The Orange County Sheriff's Office has filed a child neglect charge with the State Attorney's office against a Florida mother accused of leaving her 2-month-old daughter inside a hot minivan.
According to WFTV in Orlando, the baby was taken to Nemours Hospital in stable condition after authorities said the child was left in a minivan for about an hour outside a pediatrics clinic in Avalon Park.
"We need an ambulance right away," a caller can be heard telling 911 dispatchers. "We have an infant that was left in a car for over an hour."
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Deputies said the incident happened around 3:30 p.m. Tuesday at Timber Creek Pediatrics.
Deputies said the mother told them her daughter was sleeping so she left her in the van, thinking she was only going to be in the clinic with her 9-year-old for a few minutes. Once inside, however, the woman forgot her daughter was in the car and rushed outside to get her.
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"She made the choice to leave the child in the car, and therefore, our investigators feel that is neglect," said Jane Watrel of the Orange County Sheriff's Office.
The woman took the infant into the clinic, where doctors were able to stabilize the girl, deputies said.
WFTV learned the child had a temperature of 101.6 degrees. Workers described her looking like a "bright red tomato," but they were able to ice the baby down until paramedics could arrive.
"When she was brought in, she was screaming," Watrel said. "She was obviously in distress, so these medical experts, thank goodness, knew what to do."
The baby's name has not been released. She was released from the hospital Tuesday night and is expected to be OK.
The Sheriff's Office Child Abuse Unit is investigating.
