The 911 caller was so frantic that dispatchers couldn’t understand what was being said, say police
A 3-year-old boy was found dead inside a sweltering car outside of his home in southern Utah, say police.
On Monday, Sept. 1, at 6:11 p.m., deputies with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office received a call they couldn’t understand because someone was screaming, the sheriff’s office said in a statement, KSL.com reports.
Dispatchers classified the call as a “911 hangup” but still sent deputies to Veyo, according to the statement from the sheriff’s office, The Salt Lake Tribune reports.
There, deputies found a toddler unresponsive inside a car, Washington County Sheriff’s Sgt. Lucas Alfred said, KSL.com reports.
Paramedics performed life-saving measures on the boy, but couldn’t save him; he was pronounced dead at the scene.
The sheriff’s office said its investigation revealed the child “was left unattended after a shopping trip with his family” on Sept. 1, when temperatures reached the 90s.
It’s unclear how long he was in the car.
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Authorities are investigating. They have not said whether charges will be filed, Fox13 reports.
“The Washington County Sheriff’s Office is saddened that this tragic incident occurred and extend our deepest condolences to the family, friends, and community this has affected,” the sheriff’s office said.
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for information.
