Report: 3-year-old boy dies in hot car while father shops in Michigan grocery store

VICKSBURG, MI — A 3-year-old boy died in an overheated car Tuesday afternoon while his father was shopping at a Michigan grocery store, according to multiple news reports.

According to news reports, officials found the toddler’s body at 3 p.m. in a car parked in the parking lot of the Family Fare store in Vicksburg.

Authorities believe the boy’s death was due to heat, as temperatures in Vicksburg reached over 30 degrees Celsius on Tuesday.

Inside a vehicle, the temperature can rise by 20 degrees in 10 minutes and by 30 degrees in 20 minutes. according to the American Veterinary Medical Association.

The police are still investigating the incident. They will then hand over their findings to the public prosecutor for possible charges.

A parent or guardian caring for a child under the age of six can be charged if the child is left unattended in a vehicle for a period of time or under circumstances that pose “a disproportionate risk of harm or injury” under Michigan law.

A conviction can result in a prison sentence of up to 15 years under Michigan law.