Baby dies after being left inside minivan, NJ officials say

LAKEWOOD — An infant found in "distress" inside a parked minivan Tuesday afternoon later died, according to Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer.

First responders from Hatzolah Medical Services were first to arrive at 5th Street in Lakewood around 1:45 p.m. performing life-saving measures on the four-month-old boy. He was taken to Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus in Lakewood where he was pronounced dead.

A blue Toyota Sienna minivan was towed from the scene late Tuesday afternoon, according to The Lakewood Scoop which was first to report the tragedy.

Billhimer did not disclose why the infant was in the vehicle, a cause of death, or identify his parents or caretaker.

ALSO READ: Good news! Atlantic City will have an airshow this summer after all

Cars can heat up even in cool weather

On a late winter day, it doesn't take long for temperatures to quickly rise inside a parked vehicle in direct sunlight, according to New Jersey 101.5 Chief Meteorologist Dan Zarrow.

"The temperature inside a vehicle can rise significantly even with cooler temperatures outside with the majority of the temperature rise occurring within the first 15 to 30 minutes," Zarrow said.

Zarrow said a weather station in nearby Howell reported 54 degrees at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, with a light breeze. The high temperature there later in the afternoon was 63.

Report a correction 👈 | 👉 Contact our newsroom