A three-year-old boy died after he was left in a car on a sweltering hot day when his grandmother apparently forgot about him for hours.
Kendrick Engram Jr. was found after his grandmother called his uncle, who was at a Wendy’s drive-thru in Columbus, Georgia, on Sunday.
The boy was left in the third-row seat of the Nissan sports utility vehicle for about two hours and 45 minutes, the Muscogee County Coroner’s Office said. He died of suffocation.
Sunday’s high was 96 * F and he was low 90 * F, according to the National Weather Service.
Kendrick was with his grandmother and other family members for most of Sunday, including his three sisters, according to Muscogee County Coroner Buddy Bryan. The family returned home around 5:30 p.m.
“Everyone went into the house except the boy,” Bryan told the Daily Mail.
‘The grandmother went into the bedroom, the other children went into the kitchen to eat. Then the kids were in and out, playing … just like kids do. ‘
Nearly three hours later, around 8:15 p.m., Grandma realized Kendrick was missing. She apparently called to the children and asked about a head count, but no one knew where the boy was.
The grandmother called Kendrick’s uncle, who was at the fast food restaurant, to find out if the toddler was with him. The uncle initially denied that Kendrick was there, but soon discovered him in the SUV.
Kendrick was pronounced dead at about 9 p.m.
“Just be aware. Just be aware. If you’re an adult, be responsible, ‘Bryan said. “The children are innocent. They can not help themselves and when you have a child, it places the responsibility on you. ‘
It was not clear on Tuesday whether the family would be charged with Kendrick’s death.
A GoFundMe page for Kendrick’s funeral expenses described him as ‘energetic, loving and full of life!’
Kendrick is the seventh child to die after being left in a hot car so far this year, according to Safe Kids.
Last week, Trace Means (5) died after his mother left him in the back of a Porsche sports utility vehicle in 100 * F heat in Houston, Texas, for two to three hours.
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