Toddler locked in car, dies
2003-02-05 08:16
Johannesburg - A two-year-old girl died in Garden City Clinic after being left locked in a car in the sun while her child-minder went shopping, The Star newspaper reported on Wednesday.
According to the report, the unnamed child was declared dead on arrival at the clinic on Monday afternoon - when temperatures reached 30° - after she was taken there by staff from Jumbo Cash & Carry.
Nobody has been arrested yet and the case has been forwarded to the director of public prosecutions for a decision on whether to prosecute.
Surendra Bhawan Suroobhai, managing director of Jumbo Cash & Carry's Crown Mines store, confirmed that the child had been locked in a car.
Captain Schalk Bornman said an inquest docket had been opened.
The death was believed to have been caused by extreme heat, he said.
Bornman said it was possible a charge of culpable homicide would be laid.
"The police would like to appeal to the public not to leave children in cars."
- SAPA