Hallandale Beach toddler dies after being left in car by babysitter

A 2-year-old child died after being left inside a vehicle while in the care of a babysitter in Hallandale Beach, where officers responded at about 1:35 p.m. Sunday and rushed the child to a nearby hospital. Hallandale Beach police are investigating.

Police have not released details about how long the child had been inside the car or what led to the oversight. A parked car can turn deadly in minutes, even when the outside temperature does not feel extreme.

Hallandale Beach police reminded parents, guardians and caregivers to check the back seat every time before locking a car and walking away. “One last look before you shut the door can save a child’s life.” Florida Statute 316.6135 bars a parent, legal guardian or other person responsible for a child younger than 6 from leaving the child unattended or unsupervised in a motor vehicle for more than 15 minutes, or for any period if the motor is running, the child’s health is in danger or the child appears to be in distress. If a child is injured, the violation can be charged as a third-degree felony.

The National Weather Service forecast hot temperatures around July 5, with maximums in the upper 80s to mid 90s across South Florida and hazardous heat possible. In that kind of weather, a sealed vehicle can become dangerous rapidly, putting toddlers and other young children at immediate risk.

Kids and Car Safety counts at least 1,181 child deaths in hot cars in the United States since 1990, with at least another 7,500 surviving injuries. No Heat Stroke counts 1,052 children who have died from pediatric vehicular heatstroke since 1998 and lists Florida among the states with the highest cumulative totals, with 115 deaths in its database from 1998 through 2025.