Two parents in Kansas were arrested after they allegedly left six children in a hot car parked outside of a restaurant on one of the hottest days of the year.
The Salina Police Department said that officers learned of the incident when they received a call around 2 p.m. on Wednesday, July 8, reporting that children had been left alone in a vehicle with only one window cracked, according to KSLA.
The children had been left in the car for between 20 to 30 minutes, according to police.
By the time that officers reported to the scene, the outside temperature in Salina was nearly triple digits and the heat index was over 100 degrees.
Police confirmed that they found six children in the car that ranged from the ages of 7 months old to 13 years old. All of the children were taken into protective custody at the scene, and police have not revealed who they’re currently staying with.
Michael Krueger and Tiffany Krueger were then identified as the parents. They were arrested and were both charged with six counts of aggravated child endangerment.
It is not currently clear if Michael, 53, or Tiffany, 40, have entered pleas or retained legal counsel following their arrests. The Salina Police Department did not immediately respond to Us’ request for comment regarding the case.
Following the incident, Salina Fire Department’s Chad Scoville said that children are more vulnerable to heat than adults and it was unsafe for them to be in the car for so long.
“A child’s body temperature rises three to five times faster than adults,’” Scoville said, per the outlet. “They just do not have the same regulating capabilities that an adult does.”
Scoville added that the temperatures inside vehicles can reach dangerous levels in short time spans.
“Temperatures can reach deadly levels inside cars within minutes,” Scoville said. “Anything can happen at any time, even if you think you’re going to be [away for] minutes — that could turn into an hour. We simply do not want to leave unattended children or pets in unattended vehicles. Period.”
Meanwhile, Salina Police Department’s Aaron Melby told ABC News 4 that there is never a situation where children should be left in a hot car.
“Sometimes, it feels inconvenient to get your kids and move them a bunch of times in and out of the vehicle, but, really, it could be the difference between the safety of the children,” he said.
