Young Child Found Dead In Car At NJ PATCO Station: Officials

LINDENWOLD, NJ — A young child was found deceased after being left in a car at the PATCO high speed line station in South Jersey on Friday, according to officials with the mass transit company.

"First responders were called to the scene on a report of a child left in a car at the Lindenwold Station on Friday afternoon," Delaware River Port Authority spokesperson Mike Williams said Friday afternoon. "The child had been in the vehicle for an unknown amount of time, and resuscitation efforts were made."

When the Delaware River Port Authority and Lindenwold police arrived at the scene, they found a 22-month-old girl unresponsive in her car seat with the passenger window broken, according to the Camden County Prosecutor's Office. The baby was pronounced deceased at the scene at 3:54 p.m.

The Camden County Prosecutor's Office is investigating the circumstances of the child's death. The Delaware River Port Authority Police Department is assisting in the investigation. The Delaware River Port Authority runs the rail line.

No charges had been filed as of Saturday. Anyone with information is urged to contact Camden County Prosecutor’s Office Detective Mike Batista at 856-676-8175 or DRPA Corporal Joseph Ebling at 856-969-7884. Information may also be emailed to ccpotips@ccprosecutor.org

Family members told 6 ABC the girl suffocated. The child was found by a passerby at the Lindenwold station at about 2:30 p.m., according to CBS 3. The temperatures reached into the 80s on Friday.

The child was left in a minivan, according to NBC 10. A white tarp was seen over an open door on the minivan. Broken glass was seen next to the minivan.

A woman leaving the parking lot told nj.com “I don’t know how you forget,” about a baby in a car. Another passerby told the website “I certainly hope it’s an accident. I can’t imagine anyone doing that.”

According to Kids and Cars, 34 children have died in hot cars this year. This is the second New Jersey case. The other occurred in Lakewood in June. Read more here: Lakewood Woman Charged In Death Of Child Left In Car

Last year, a record 52 children died in hot cars nationwide, according to the National Safety Council. Police have previously provided the following tips for parents or grandparents driving with children in the backseat on a hot day:

For Parents and Caregivers: Remind yourself that the child is in the car.

• Place a briefcase, purse, or cell phone next to the child’s car seat so that you’ll always check the back seat before leaving the car.
• Call your spouse or another caregiver to confirm you’ve dropped your child off.
• Have your daycare provider call you if your child doesn’t arrive.
• Write a note and place it on the dashboard of your car, or set a reminder on your cell phone or calendar.

For Bystanders: Actions to take if you see a child alone in a vehicle:

• Always make sure the child is okay and responsive. If not, call 911 immediately.
• If the child appears to be okay, attempt to locate the parents or have the facility’s security or management page the car owner over the PA system.
• If the child is not responsive and appears to be in distress, attempt to get into the car to assist the child.

See related: 30th Child Dies In Hot Car; Safety Advocates Call For Legislation