ORMOND BEACH, Fla. – A woman from Longwood was arrested on Monday, accused of leaving a 2-year-old unattended in a hot car at a Publix in Ormond Beach.
Elena Grady, 63, left the child alone in a car that was not running and was parked in the full sun around 3 p.m. while she went into the grocery store, according to the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office. At the time of the incident, the outside temperature was 91 degrees with a heat index of 101 degrees, the sheriff’s office said on social media.
Officials stated Publix management noticed the 2-year-old child inside of the parked car, with the windows barely cracked. The manager reached in to unlock the car and bring the child into the store to cool off, as the child appeared overheated and lethargic, the post states. It was determined later by deputies that the child had recovered and was in good health despite being left alone in the hot car for over 16 minutes.
Grady faces a charge of child neglect and was taken to the Volusia County Branch Jail, where she was released overnight on a $3,000 bond. According to Florida law, it is illegal to leave a child under the age of 6 unattended in a vehicle for more than 15 minutes, even in non-extreme heat conditions.
A parked car in the sun on a 90-degree day can reach 120 degrees within 30 minutes, and 138 degrees after 90 minutes, according to the sheriff’s office.
“Let’s avoid tragedy and remember NOT to leave children, pets, or vulnerable adults in a hot vehicle even if it’s only supposed to be a few minutes,” the post states.
Get today’s headlines in minutes with Your Florida Daily: