As summer temperatures soar, parents must remain vigilant: leaving children unattended in vehicles during hot weather poses extreme risks. In California, a recent incident underscores this peril when a woman left her two young sons in her car while undergoing a cosmetic procedure, resulting in a tragic fatality.
On June 29, amid temperatures of approximately 38°C, Maya Hernandez drove to a medispa with her 1-year-old son and 2-year-old son. Though the establishment allowed children in its waiting area, Hernandez opted to lock both boys inside her hybrid vehicle while she received lip injections. The typically brief 15-20 minute procedure stretched to 2.5 hours due to high customer volume.
Upon returning, Hernandez found the infant unresponsive and foaming at the mouth; emergency responders could not revive him. The older child survived and was placed in protective care. Hernandez claimed she had activated the air conditioning, but investigators noted her 2022 hybrid Toyota featured an automatic engine shut-off system that deactivates after one hour. The children remained inside for over 90 minutes.
Hernandez remains in custody with bail exceeding $1 million; the children’s father is incarcerated and has been informed of the loss. Automotive safety experts emphasize that sealed vehicles rapidly become lethal “greenhouses”: within an hour, internal temperatures can exceed 50-60°C under summer heat, with surfaces like dashboards reaching 70°C or higher. Such conditions can trigger heatstroke in children or pets within minutes.
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