ABC News July 11, 2024

5-year-old boy dies after being left in hot car for 7 hours; foster mom arrested: Police

WATCH: 5-year-old boy dies after being left in hot car for 7 hours: Omaha police

A 5-year-old boy died after being left in a hot car in Omaha, Nebraska, for about seven hours, authorities said.

The boy was found unresponsive outside of a beauty salon where his foster mother works shortly after 5 p.m. Wednesday, according to Omaha police.

KETV
A 5-year-old boy died in Omaha, Neb., on Wednesday after being left in a car for an extended period of time, police said.
MORE: 2-year-old Arizona girl dies after dad leaves her in car during triple-digit heat: Police

The 5-year-old was taken to a hospital where he was declared dead, police said.

His foster mother, 40-year-old Juanita Pinon, of Omaha, was arrested and charged with child abuse by neglect, resulting in death, police announced Thursday.

Omaha PD
Juanita Pinon, 40, was charged with Child abuse by neglect, resulting in death.

"The suspect did not provide a statement to declare whether it was an accident or intentional," police spokesperson Chris Gordon told ABC News.

The temperature climbed to 89 degrees in Omaha on Wednesday.

KETV
A 5-year-old boy died in Omaha, Neb., on Wednesday after being left in a car for an extended period of time, police said.
MORE: No end in sight as record-breaking heat wave continues

At least 10 children have died in hot cars across the U.S. so far this year, according to national nonprofit KidsAndCars.org.

Since 1990, at least 1,094 children have died in hot cars, KidsAndCars.org found.

Click here for hot car safety tips to keep in mind this summer.