Kids and Car Safety, a nonprofit that tracks pediatric hot car deaths, listed the Fort Myers case as the 14th child hot car death in the United States in 2026.
Published Jul 22, 2026 5:52 PM EDT
|
Updated Jul 22, 2026 5:52 PM EDT
A single, fleeting mistake can lead to life-changing tragedy when it comes to children in hot cars. When cars can turn deadly in minutes, here’s what you need to know.
A 17-month-old girl died after being found inside a hot vehicle outside a church in Fort Myers, Florida, on Tuesday, marking at least the fifth child hot car death in the state this year.
The Lee County Sheriff’s Office told AccuWeather the child’s death investigation began around 5 p.m. on Tuesday. The 17-month-old girl was found at 7806 College Parkway, the address of a local church in Fort Myers. Authorities have not released additional details about how long the child was inside the vehicle or the circumstances leading up to her death.
“This is an active and ongoing investigation while we work with our partners at the State Attorney’s Office,” the Sheriff’s Office said.
Temperatures at Page Field in Fort Myers reached 91 degrees Tuesday afternoon, according to local observations. High humidity pushed AccuWeather RealFeel® Temperatures into the triple digits.
A parked vehicle can become dangerously hot within minutes, even when outdoor temperatures are not at record levels. Sunlight heats a vehicle’s interior surfaces, which then radiate heat and cause the temperature inside to rise rapidly.
Kids and Car Safety, a nonprofit that tracks pediatric hot car deaths, listed the Fort Myers case as the 14th child hot car death in the United States in 2026.
The organization said this is the fifth such death in Florida this year. The previous incidents occurred in Winter Haven on March 31, Riverview on June 20, Plantation on June 29 and Hallandale Beach on July 5.
Florida has accounted for more than one-third of the child hot car deaths recorded nationwide so far this year.
Children are especially vulnerable to extreme heat because their body temperatures rise three to five times faster than those of adults. Heatstroke can begin when the body’s core temperature reaches about 104 degrees, while a core temperature of 107 degrees or higher can be fatal.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration urges parents and caregivers to check the entire vehicle before walking away, even when a child is not expected to be riding with them. Personal items such as a phone, purse, work badge or briefcase can be placed in the back seat as an additional reminder.
Caregivers should also ask daycare providers to call immediately if a child does not arrive as expected. Vehicles should remain locked when parked, with keys and key fobs kept out of children’s reach.
Anyone who sees a child alone inside a vehicle should call 911 immediately.