BRIGHTON, Mich., 10:27 a.m. EDT August 6, 2001-- Police are investigating after two children were found left unattended in a car in the parking lot of a Target store in Brighton Sunday morning.
The Ford Probe was left unattended when a 26-year-old mother went inside the store to do some shopping. A 6-year-old boy and an 18-month-old girl were left inside with the windows rolled up and the vehicle not running, according to police.
Police said that the temperature outside the car was 86 degrees when they found the children inside the closed car.
When a Michigan State Police trooper made contact with the children, the infant was covered in sweat and extremely red in color, police said. The trooper was able to get the 6-year-old boy to open the vehicle and assist both children while waiting for the woman to return to the vehicle, police said.
Police questioned the woman and let her go pending further investigation. The two children were released to their mother's custody. The incident will be sent to the Livingston County Prosecutor's Office for review.
Troopers would like to remind the public of the great danger when leaving children unattended in vehicles during the summer. The heat intensity of the vehicle's interior becomes too great and can cause serious injury, even death.
