Sleeping Child Left in Car Outside Washington Business as Temperatures Reached 95 Degrees

David Rasbach / The Bellingham Herald

A child reportedly was left inside a car outside a Bellingham business in 95-degree temperatures Sunday, resulting in the parent being cited for reckless endangerment and the child being transferred from their care.

The child was checked by aid workers and found to be OK, Lt. Claudia Murphy told The Bellingham Herald in an email.

An employee of the store in the 4400 block of Meridian Street noticed the child left alone in the car June 27 and sought help, then removed the child from the car, Murphy reported.

When officers arrived, they determined the parent left the sleeping 5-year-old in the car and entered the business to use the restroom, according to Murphy.

Temperatures at the time were 95 degrees, Murphy reported, making the temperatures in the car “significantly higher, dangerously high.”

It was estimated the child was left alone in the hot car for more than eight…

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