Authorities in Hallandale Beach, in southern Florida, are investigating the death of a two-year-old boy who remained inside a parked car during a day of intense heat, in a case that constitutes the second tragedy of this type recorded in Broward County in less than a week.

According to police, the child was under the care of a babysitter when the incident occurred on Sunday, when the wind chill reached approximately 101 degrees Fahrenheit (38.3°C).

The caregiver took the child to a nearby hospital, where doctors confirmed his death, WSVN reported.

The investigation remains open

Hallandale Beach Police began investigations after hospital staff reported the admission of an unconscious minor who had stopped breathing.

Detectives later determined that the child had remained inside a parked vehicle.

“The babysitter was responsible for the care of the minor and that is the home where he resides,” Hallandale Beach Police spokesperson Grace Mariot explained to the WSVN channel.

The official indicated that, according to the first investigations, it was the babysitter herself who took the minor to the medical center.

So far, authorities have not reported how long the child remained inside the car or if there is any family connection between the caregiver and the victim.

It has not yet been decided whether there will be criminal charges

Investigators continue to gather evidence before referring the case to the State Attorney's Office, which will determine whether charges should be filed.

Meanwhile, the event has caused shock among Hallandale Beach residents.

"I can't understand it. It's incredible. How can you get out of the car and not realize you're carrying a baby?" said a neighbor identified as Theresa Ogden.

Other residents called the tragedy “terrible” and “devastating.”

It is the second case in less than a week in Broward

The death occurred a few days after another similar case also recorded in Broward County.

On that occasion, a 23-month-old boy died after his father allegedly forgot to drop him off at an early childhood education center in Plantation. The man discovered hours later that the minor was still inside the truck when he arrived at the daycare.

The owner of the educational center described the family as “loving” and assured that the entire community was deeply affected by what happened.

Authorities reiterate recommendations to avoid these tragedies

According to the Kids and Car Safety organization, this is the fourth death of a minor inside a vehicle registered in Florida this year and the tenth in the United States.

The organization warns that a child's body heats three to five times faster than that of an adult and that most of the temperature increase inside a car occurs during the first ten minutes after parking it.

Specialists point out that these incidents are not always due to a deliberate act of negligence and can occur when caregivers experience stress, fatigue, distractions or unexpected changes in their routine.

After the tragedy, Hallandale Beach Police asked parents, family members and caregivers to make it a habit to always check the back seat before leaving a vehicle.

Additionally, experts recommend placing an essential item, such as a cell phone, purse, or wallet, next to the child in the back seat to provide a visual reminder before locking the car.