An 18-month-old boy was found dead Monday evening in the back seat of a car outside a Florida preschool after his father allegedly forgot to drop him off earlier that morning, authorities said. Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the child’s death.
Incident
The Plantation Police Department said officers were called at 5:39 p.m. on June 29 to a report of a deceased child inside a vehicle. The call came from A World of Discovery Academy, a preschool located at 7025 NW 4th Street in Plantation, a suburb west of Fort Lauderdale.
When police and fire crews arrived, the Plantation Fire Department confirmed the child was dead. Detectives responded to the scene and opened an investigation.
What happened
According to the school’s owner and director, Leslie Novoa, the boy’s father arrived at the preschool in the afternoon to pick up his son and then realized the child had never been dropped off that morning.
“He never dropped off the child at the school,” Novoa told local media. She said the father discovered the toddler in the back seat of the car in the parking lot. Emergency services were then called.
The preschool’s assistant director provided the same account to NBC 6 South Florida.
Novoa said the child was a student at the academy and that she had known the family for about six years. She described them as a longtime part of the school community.
Investigation
Plantation police have not released the child’s name and have not said whether charges will be filed. The department said the investigation remains ongoing.
Authorities have not publicly commented on how long the child may have been inside the vehicle or other details surrounding the case.
Heat risks
The incident occurred on a day when temperatures in Plantation reached a high of about 92 degrees Fahrenheit, according to AccuWeather. Weather experts note that vehicles can heat up rapidly, even on days that do not seem extreme.
“On hot, sunny days, vehicles can trap heat like a greenhouse, allowing temperatures inside to climb above 120 degrees in minutes,” AccuWeather said.
Broader context
Hot car deaths remain a persistent safety issue nationwide. According to KidsandCars.org, an organization focused on preventing vehicular heatstroke, at least 1,181 children have died in hot cars in the United States since 1990, as of June 30, 2026.
Safety advocates emphasize that most of these deaths are unintentional and often involve caregivers who lose track of a routine or are under stress.
Police said additional information may be released as the investigation continues.
FAQs
Where did the incident occur?
At a preschool parking lot in Plantation, Florida.
How old was the child?
The child was 18 months old.
What do police say happened?
The child was left in a car and later found deceased.
Have charges been filed?
Police have not announced any charges.
How common are hot car deaths?
More than 1,100 U.S. children have died since 1990.
