A young boy tragically passed away after being left all alone in a scorching vehicle for several hours.
3-year-old Kendrick Engram Jr was a happy and lively young boy who was found unconscious by his uncle inside a car parked at Wendy’s parking lot in Columbus, Georgia.
Following the autopsy at Muscogee County Coroner’s Office, it was confirmed that the child died of asphyxiation after being locked in the car for nearly three hours on Sunday when temperatures reached as high as 96°F.
According to the reports, little Kendrick spent the day outside with his three sisters and his grandmother before returning home at around 5.30 pm on Sunday.
“Everyone went in the house except the little boy. The grandmother went into the bedroom, the other children went into the kitchen area to eat. Then the children were in and out, playing … just like kids do,” Muscogee County Coroner Buddy Bryan explained.
For about 2 hours and 45 minutes, nobody realized that the young boy was still in the car until the grandmother called the kids together for a headcount.
“The grandmother called out to the children and asked about a headcount, and nobody knew where Kendrick was,” the coroner added.
After realizing that the boy was missing, the grandma immediately called Kendrick’s uncle who just minutes before the grandma’s realization borrowed the car the 3-year-old was in to drive to Wendy’s to get some ice cream.
While at a Columbus Wendy’s, the uncle couldn’t believe that his nephew was forgotten in the car by his grandmother until inspecting the vehicle and finding the boy strapped to his back-row seat.
“There were signs that he had tried to climb out,” Bryan added.
Shortly after, Kendrick was pronounced dead.
Following the tragic incident, Bryan urged parents and other caretakers to always be aware of their children’s whereabouts.
“Just be aware. Just be aware. If you’re an adult, be responsible. The children are innocent. They can’t help themselves and when you have a child that puts the responsibility on you,” he said.
As of this writing, it is not clear if the grandmother will face any charges over her grandson’s death.
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