A Nebraska mom has been accused of leaving her three-month-old child behind in a car while she went horse riding in temperatures reaching 90 degrees Fahrenheit.
Cara Dugan, 40, was arrested at the Merrick County Fairgrounds on Saturday (August 24) after police were called to the scene to investigate a infant being left unattended.
According to Merrick County Sheriff’s Office, a passerby heard the baby crying at the fairground and began to search the surrounding cars to locate them.
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When police arrived on the scene at about 1:30pm, it was determined the infant had been left in a pickup truck with the engine switched off, and the windows left partially ajar.
The baby was determined to have been in the car for a 'substantial amount of time', though it's unclear exactly how long they had been unattended.
The child was recovered and cared for by the person who heard them crying, as well as additional members of the public.
“Tragedy was most likely avoided thanks to their response and actions!” the sheriff’s office said in a statement about the incident.
Meanwhile, Dugan was found inside a building on the grounds, riding a horse as temperatures outside were recorded at 89 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit.
Cars trap heat due to glass in the windows, which create a greenhouse-like effect. Sunlight traveling through the windows can heat the dashboard and seats, causing them to radiate heat.
If the windows are still up, fresh air can't get into the car to circulate the heat, causing it to become increasingly more hot.
According to NBC24, 90 degree temperatures outside can feel like 109 degrees Fahrenheit inside a car with the windows closed after just 10 minutes.
After an hour, temperatures inside the car can feel like 133 degrees Fahrenheit.
Following the discovery of the baby, the mother was placed under arrest and transported to the Merrick County Jail, where she was held on one count of child abuse.
Under Nebraska law and the alleged circumstances surrounding the discovery, Dugan's charge involves 'knowingly and intentionally' committing felony child abuse that 'does not result in serious bodily injury', Law and Crime reports.
The three-month-old was taken to hospital for a wellness check, and after being evaluated it was determined they had not sustained any injuries as a result of being left in the hot car.
The baby was then placed into the care of the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services.
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence regarding the welfare of a child, the Childhelp USA National Child Abuse Hotline (1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453) operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and receives calls from throughout the United States, Canada, US Virgin Islands, Guam and Puerto Rico.
Emily Brown