Police fear baby died forgotten in minivan

[Janice]

GRAND FORKS, North Dakota (AP) -- A 5-month-old girl died after being left all day in a minivan when her mother apparently forgot to take her to a day care center, authorities said.

Police Sgt. Jeff Burgess said the mother drove to the day care about 5:30 p.m. Wednesday after leaving work, and was told she had not dropped the girl off earlier.

"They ran out to her vehicle, and the infant was still in the car seat in the vehicle," Burgess said.

Curt Kreun, the owner of the Wonder Years 2 day care center, said authorities were called and staff members tried unsuccessfully to revive the baby.

Kreun said it would have been impossible for passers-by to see the baby in the van, which had tinted windows. The baby's car seat was in the backseat.

The high temperature in Grand Forks on Wednesday was 78 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.

At least 31 such deaths have been recorded every year in the United States since 1998, with 42 each in 2003 and 2005, according to Jan Null, a San Francisco State University meteorology professor who tracks such deaths.

[O Town]

I say it everytime I hear about these stories. HOW IN THE HE!! DO YOU FORGET YOUR BABY????? I just don't get it. With 3 kids of my own I have never forgotten my kids anywhere. I know I have looked in the back seat several times to make sure I have them all after leaving somewhere. But when you are in a routine to drop off your kids every morning how do you forget to do such an important thing? I don't know maybe I am being harsh, but it really angers me when these kinds of preventable things happen.

[george_r_1961]

This makes me see red. Bet she doesnt forget her purse with her money and credit cards..how in the world can she forget a BABY???????????

[Kim_in_MN]

When I read that in the local paper this morning, I couldn't understand how someone could think they dropped their baby off at daycare. Stupid, stupid, STUPID people. Every time I read a story like that my heart breaks.

Kim

[cajungal]

How could you forget your own baby? I am a very forgetful person, but if I would have had kids, they would be #1 on my mind and there is no way in the world I would forget that they were in the car with me. That is just horrible!

[Miss Mary]

This little baby's death is shocking but I also find it shocking (and questionable to be honest) that this mother drove to work, parked her van, worked all day long, then drove this van to the daycare, to pick up her baby. Without checking the backseat! Before work, after work, while driving to the daycare! Is her life such a blur that she thought she dropped the baby off?

You're supposed to check your backseat for safety as it is! I always glance at the back of my car.

I wonder if this was deliberate?

[tropicana]

These are the kind of people who don't even deserve to be parents in the first place.
Sad really when the kids don't have any control, and sad that it had to come to this.
But it goes under the category of "inexcusable".

There is nothing that she can say or do that will make it alright, Nothing nothing nothing will make this okay.

-justin-

[TexasStooge]

How could you forget your own baby? I am a very forgetful person, but if I would have had kids, they would be #1 on my mind and there is no way in the world I would forget that they were in the car with me. That is just horrible!

How could anyone forget their own kids?

I've seen too many incidents like that here in TX on the news.

[O Town]

Yes it happens it seems a few times every summer here as well. I tend to agree with you mary, even though I have dark tinted window you can still see in ecspecially during daylight hours. I wonder too, how she got in and out of her car and failed to see the babys legs hanging out of the baby seat in the back seat. I kinda look in my van as I walk to the drivers side without trying, you can't really help but look in the window when getting in and out. I wonder if she did it on purpose as well, trying to make an easy out of it. Hoping that they will rule it as accidental and she will skate by a free woman.

[Miss Mary]

I still don't understand how you forget a baby in the car. After my youngest started First Grade, I flipped my front seat up (two door hatchback) to let her out (many times) and silly me, she was in school. It felt odd walking into stores and the grocery w/o that little hand in my hand. I swear it took me months to realize I was shopping alone - again. My kids were just about plastered to my side when little. Little appendenges I called them. If they were next to me, I was holding their stuff - toys, purses, money, stuffed animals while they played on the playground. To this day if they hand me something I just take it, out of habit (usually all their shopping bags!).

Terribly tragic story.

[Miss Mary]

I still don't understand how you forget a baby in the car. After my youngest started First Grade, I flipped my front seat up (two door hatchback) to let her out (many times) and silly me, she was in school. It felt odd walking into stores and the grocery w/o that little hand in my hand. I swear it took me months to realize I was shopping alone - again. My kids were just about plastered to my side when little. Little appendenges I called them. If they weren't next to me, I was holding their stuff - toys, purses, money, stuffed animals while they played on the playground. To this day if they hand me something I just take it, out of habit (usually all their shopping bags!).

Terribly tragic story.

[beachbum_al]

How in the world do you forget your child in the back of your car? Something sounds fishy to this story.

[Miss Mary]

How in the world do you forget your child in the back of your car? Something sounds fishy to this story.

beachbum_al - It did to me also - right away. Your mind hates to go that direction but you also can't help it.