Thornton, Colorado — A 7-year-old girl is being credited with helping save her own life after police say she broke a car window with a mallet to escape from a dangerously overheated vehicle while her grandfather was shopping inside a Walmart.
The frightening incident happened on July 6 outside a Walmart Neighborhood Market in Thornton, where authorities say the child had been left alone inside a parked vehicle for at least 20 minutes as outside temperatures hovered around 90 degrees.
Firefighters later estimated the temperature inside the vehicle had soared to more than 150 degrees.
Child Broke Window to Escape Dangerous Heat
According to the Thornton Police Department, officers responded after receiving reports of a child locked inside a vehicle in the Walmart parking lot.
Investigators say the young girl began suffering from the extreme heat and grabbed a mallet that was inside the vehicle to smash the front passenger-side window.
After breaking the glass, she managed to climb out of the vehicle before concerned bystanders rushed over to help her and remained with her until emergency crews arrived.
Police later released a photograph showing the shattered passenger-side window following the dramatic escape.
Grandfather Allegedly Left Child While Shopping
Authorities identified the child’s grandfather as 62-year-old Eddie Espinoza.
According to investigators, Espinoza had gone inside the Walmart to shop while leaving his granddaughter alone in the parked vehicle.
Police allege he admitted during questioning that he had been shopping when the child was left inside the car.
Following the investigation at the scene, Espinoza was taken into custody and has been charged with child abuse in connection with the incident.
The allegations have not yet been tested in court.
Girl Treated for Minor Injuries
Emergency responders treated the child for minor injuries caused by broken glass after she escaped through the shattered window.
Authorities said the injuries were not considered life-threatening, but noted the situation could have become much more serious if she had remained trapped inside the vehicle.
Officials continue to remind parents and caregivers that temperatures inside parked vehicles can rise rapidly, even when outside temperatures seem manageable.
Hot Cars Can Become Deadly Within Minutes
Safety experts warn that a vehicle’s interior can heat up dramatically in a short amount of time, creating life-threatening conditions for children.
According to the National Safety Council, there have been at least 12 pediatric vehicular heatstroke deaths in the United States this year. The organization also reports that, on average, 37 children younger than 15 die each year after suffering heatstroke while left inside vehicles.
Authorities urge drivers to never leave a child unattended in a parked vehicle, even for a few minutes, because temperatures can quickly reach deadly levels.
The investigation into the incident remains ongoing.
What are your thoughts on this incident? What additional steps do you think communities can take to prevent children from being left in dangerously hot vehicles? Share your thoughts respectfully in the comments below.
