A hospital worker in the US has been accused by police of leaving her young son inside a car for around nine hours while she was at work, with temperatures inside the vehicle reportedly reaching as high as 117°F (about 47°C). The child did not survive the ordeal, and the case has drawn attention to the dangers of leaving children unattended in hot vehicles, a hazard that causes multiple child deaths in the US each year, particularly during summer heatwaves.

Details beyond the police account are limited in initial reporting, with authorities said to be investigating the circumstances that led to the boy being left in the car for such an extended period. The case is likely to lead to criminal charges against the mother, though full details of the charges, her identity, and the exact location have not been confirmed in the available report.