Baby dies after being found inside vehicle in New Jersey; police investigation now underway

LAKEWOOD, N.J. (WPVI) -- An investigation is now underway following the death of a baby who was found inside a vehicle in New Jersey.

Police were called to the area of 5th Street in Lakewood, Ocean County around 1:45 p.m. Tuesday.

Medics took the four-month-old baby boy to Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus where he was pronounced dead.

The circumstances of this incident remain under investigation.

"It can happen to anybody and has happened to anybody. A lot of times people think it only happens to negligent parents, but it happens all the time to well-intentioned, caring and loving parents and caregivers," said Amy Artuso, director of mobility safety programs at the National Safety Council.

She says children are more vulnerable to heat inside vehicles.

"The inside of vehicles heat up about 20 degrees in just ten minutes, regardless of what the temperature is outside," she said.

It was 59 degrees in Lakewood Tuesday afternoon at the time of the incident.

Artuso also says a child's body heats up three to five times faster than adults.

This is the second time a child has died after being left in a car in Lakewood in the past year.

Last July, an 8-week-old baby girl died after being left in a hot car. Her father, Avraham Chaitovsky, was charged.

So far, no charges have been filed in Tuesday's infant death.

Artuso says all caregivers should be educated on the risks of leaving children in cars.

"We always encourage drivers to lock their vehicles before walking away and making a habit of always checking the backseat," she said.