A 5-year-old child died Thursday afternoon after being found unresponsive in a vehicle on Marion Avenue, according to the Mansfield Division of Police.
Emergency crews responded to the scene at 91 Marion Ave. at approximately 3:15 p.m. on June 26 after receiving a report of an unresponsive child in a car. Upon arrival, officers and Mansfield Fire Department personnel found the child in the arms of his mother.
Life-saving measures were immediately initiated, and the child was transported to a local hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
Preliminary investigation indicates the child had been left unattended in the mother’s vehicle for an extended period of time, police said.
The Mansfield Police Department’s Major Crimes Unit is leading the investigation in coordination with the Richland County Prosecutor’s Office and Richland County Children Services. An autopsy has been ordered to determine the official cause of death.
“Our hearts are heavy for the family of this young child,” the department said in a statement. “Any case involving a child carries a deep emotional impact, and this incident is no exception.”
Authorities said they are not commenting on possible charges at this time as the investigation remains ongoing. Once the facts are gathered and the autopsy results are received, the case will be presented to the prosecutor’s office for review.
Police also reminded parents of the dangers of hot vehicles, noting that interior temperatures can rise rapidly — often exceeding 119 degrees Fahrenheit on an 85-degree day — and can lead to heat stroke or death in a matter of minutes.
Anyone with information related to the case is asked to contact Major Crimes Detective Ronee Swisher at (419) 755-9432.
