Reader comments
Friends, family call boy's death in hot car a 'terrible accident'

This is a terrible tragedy, I feel for the family. But, I agree with what the dr. from Primary Children's Hospital said in the article. I raised children of my own and I know about the demands they bring on parents and how chaotic things can get when they are young. Unfortunately for this family this was a costly "mistake".

Leaving a young one in a hot car is terrible but it is no accident. For anyone not to know this is dangerous they would have to be living in a cave. There is no excuse for this type of behavior.

I am so sorry for the family, for the mother, and for that little boy. I'm looking at my three little ones right now and I know that I would be absolutely devastated if I made a similar mistake. I hope that the neighbors and family will continue to support the family in their loss, and that outsiders and the media will remember that this tragedy involved real people, and that we will all be generous in our judgment of what happened.

"They said the mother is struggling and the blame she puts on herself is enough."

Amen to that. Twice the word "devastated" was used to describe the mother especially, but also the entire family. Nothing more need be added regarding this story. Let them mourn, grieve, and be comforted by strangers rather than ridiculed or condemned. Still, I imagine that won't stop insensitive commentors here from insisting this would never happen to them. I hope so for your sake, because I am sure this mother of four had every reason to think that too. My heart breaks for the feelings this poor mother must now go through for the rest of her life. If you have a heart, pray for her and her family and leave the criticism aside.

Poor poor woman. Shes not the first of the season, just the first to have it end tragically.
Her husband had just returned from a deployment.
I know them to be active members of the church and their kids are wonderful.
It was the child's regular nap time.

The child is in a better place. There is nothing the state can do that is worse than what she will do to herself.

"Utter devastation..."

Rather than grabbing our pitchforks, lets warn our neighbors and cherish the children that we have.

The report I heard on the news last night did not say that this poor child was left in the car for a few minutes. The story stated that the child had been left in the car for up to 3 hours. I didn't see anywhere in this story that confirmed or did not confirm that. I'll hold any judgement until the authorities do their job but if that is the case then this was not a case of oh my gosh I forgot where my 18 month old was for a couple of hours. That would be a case of criminal neglect.

My heart aches for this woman. I can't imagine how devastated she is. We've all at some point suddenly remembered that one of the kids is still in the car. It's a reminder to be more on our toes.

Is she likely to be charged with something like negligent homicide? I realize this was a mistake (I've read elsewhere that she thought she had brought him in and set him down for a nap, explaining the long gap in time), but it was a mistake that directly caused a completely avoidable death. I feel so horrible thinking about the poor trapped baby; at 18 months he was probably just barely too young to manipulate the latches on his carseat.

Poor child.
Destroyed mother. How does one get over guilt?
Devastated family.

I'm so very sorry for them.

I actually just read a definition of negligent homicide (should have done that before posting), and apparently there has to be an actual pattern of neglect, not just a one time accident. Hopefully this woman will be able to heal and others who hear the story can learn something.

Anonymous: you said you know them to be active members of "the church". What church are you referring to? I just need some clarity.

My heart goes out to this family. Under current state law, this mother could receive the death penalty. Hopefully, cool heads prevail and the state leaves this poor woman alone.

Avoiding this terrible tragedy is so simple really - make it a habit to take your child out of the car FIRST, then, and ONLY THEN, take your groceries, etc. out of the car. I have four teenage children who spent many minutes in their carseats, carriers, etc. INSIDE the house while I unloaded the car. Think about it, would you rather have to spend the extra $$ to replace the groceries that might go bad if you forget them, or would you rather suffer the devastating consequences that this family will suffer for the rest of their lives. Absolutely tragic, but also absolutely preventable.

In this age of technology, you would think that some brilliant inventor or car seat manufacturer would come up with an alarm or warning device on
a child's car seat. Morning news shows have covered this topic before. Believe me, I can only imagine
this family's suffering. We lost a four-year old
due to one of those booster seats, the kind without the back and the little drink holders. DON'T GO
THERE!
There has to be individuals who care enough, take
time to call and/or write their legislators to
get certain products banned in their state as well
as grants for safer products on the market.
That is what I'm working on where I live.
We have sent men to the moon. Why then, can't we
keep our babies and children safer?

They are good people and active members. Thus we must assume this is an accident and comfort the good people. I would certainly wonder if it were an accident if they weren't active though.

She is an active member of her church Jenny.

To A Solution. Where did you get the teenage size car seats and shouldn't your teenagers be helping you unload those groceries??

These tragedies come about because of distractions and stress - which do strange things to people's short-term memory. The way to combat it is through establishing routines or procedures which become so engrained that even when you're not thinking, you do the right thing automatically - i.e. every time you get out of the car, you take the baby out first thing. No one is perfect, and we almost had a similar tragedy in our own family with our youngest when she was a newborn - just because my good, intelligent wife was not back in the "baby routine" yet.

I can't believe people are wanting criminal charges against this woman. Truly what benefit would that be?
This lady will suffer the rest of her life. Bad things happen to good people. Just hope it never happens to you. I think the comment by "a solution" is the mindset parents need to have. Always take the kids out first. If I were religious, I would pray for the whole family.

Why do people here always trot out "They are active members" to dismiss the possibility of neglect or wrong doing? Are you saying that a non-member of the LDS church or an inactive member would somehow be less devastated or more culpable? Maybe a non-LDS child is just worth less in your opinions. Or is it that being LDS somehow makes you better and more caring parents? Please explain how being a "member" is at all significant to the trajedy of this event.