Toddler dies after being left in father's car all day in Lower Nazareth Township : DA

LOWER NAZARETH TWP., Pa. (WPVI) -- A girl has died after being found unresponsive inside her father's vehicle in Lower Nazareth Township, according to investigators.

The discovery was made around 4:15 p.m. Thursday in the parking lot of a business in the 4900 block of Hanoverville Road.

Northampton County District Attorney Stephen Baratta said the victim, believed to be about 15 months old, was pronounced dead.

"Allegedly, the child had been in the car for some time - as in all day," Baratta said.

Authorities said no charges have been filed at this time as investigators work to determine how the child came to be left in the vehicle. Temperatures climbed into the 90s on Thursday.

Baratta said it does not appear the child's father worked at the business where the vehicle was found.

The Colonial Regional Police Department and the Northampton County Coroner's Office are investigating.

According to Kids and Car Safety, more than half of hot car deaths happen when a caregiver unknowingly leaves a child behind. They say factors like stress, lack of sleep, and even a small change in routine can play a role.

"Look before you lock means open the back door, check the back seat every single time you leave your vehicle," said Amber Rollins, the executive director of Kids and Car Safety.

Experts also advise parents to create simple reminders that their child is in the backseat

"Grab an old stuffed animal, throw it in the backseat of your car and leave it there. Anytime you buckle the baby into the backseat, grab that stuffy, bring it up front, and put it in your lap as a physical cue that your child is with you," said Rollins.

Advocates are also pushing for stronger technology in vehicles. A federal law passed in 2021 called for new safety standards aimed at preventing hot car deaths, but those regulations have yet to be finalized.