2-year-old girl dies after dad leaves her in car with AC on in Arizona

Thursday, July 11, 2024 - A 2-year-old girl has died after her father left her in a hot car in Arizona, where residents are enduring high temperatures, according to authorities. 

 The father was running errands with his daughter, and when he returned home Tuesday afternoon, July 9, he allegedly knowingly left the 2-year-old in the car, Marana Police Capt. Tim Brunenkant told ABC News. He left the car running and the air conditioning on, Brunenkant said.

 The dad went into the house, and when he returned to the car between 30 and 60 minutes later, the car was off, Brunenkant said. 

 The 2-year-old was unresponsive and the dad called 911, Brunenkant said. 

 She was taken to a hospital where she was pronounced d3ad, police said. 

The temperature in Marana reached a scorching 111 degrees on Tuesday. Marana is just outside of Tucson, where an excessive heat warning has been issued.

 Brunenkant called the death a "heat-related tragedy." 

 No charges have been filed at this time but charges have not been ruled out, Brunenkant said Wednesday, July 10. Interviews are underway and police are looking for surveillance video in the neighborhood, he said.

 At least ten children have died in hot cars across the U.S. so far this year, according to national nonprofit KidsAndCars.org.