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13-Year-Old With Special Needs Dies After Being Left in Hot Car

In today’s hot car news, a teenager with special needs died after being left in a hot car in Colleton County, South Carolina earlier this week.
2 people arrested in the hot car death of a 13yo girl with special needs in South Carolina 17 photos
Photo: Colleton County Sheriff's Office
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The Colleton County Sheriff's Office has released a statement on the teen’s death, announcing that they already have 2 people in custody in relation to it, ABC News reports. However, they did not state the relationship between the suspects and the teenage girl, or offer details about how the death occurred.

“Once on the scene, emergency responders found a 13-year-old girl lying on the ground next to a vehicle. Upon further investigation, the juvenile was declared deceased,” the statement says, as cited by the media outlet. “Rita Pangalangan and Larry King were at the scene and transported to Sheriff’s Office headquarters for questioning.”

As of the time of writing, the two remain in custody, having been denied bail. Police believe the girl was inside the hot car for at least 2 hours and was unable to get herself out of it. She was found unresponsive by the suspects, when they returned to the vehicle.

On the day this happened, temperatures topped 80s.

“Pangalangan works in early childhood education for the Colleton County School District, according to an online district staff directory. District spokesman Sean Gruber told local news outlets she's been placed on paid leave,” ABC News further says.

In 2019, 26 children have died in hot cars so far, after being forgotten behind or left intentionally there. Police and watch groups continue to remind parents and caregivers that a small baby can die within minutes in hot weather, even if the car is parked in the shade.

They also urge all people traveling by car with a baby to use whatever type of trigger works, that would help them remember the baby in the back: place one of their shoes or purse / phone in the backseat, taking one of the baby’s items in the front in the passenger seat, or using post-its. Whatever works.
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About the author: Elena Gorgan
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Elena has been writing for a living since 2006 and, as a journalist, she has put her double major in English and Spanish to good use. She covers automotive and mobility topics like cars and bicycles, and she always knows the shows worth watching on Netflix and friends.
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