24 August 2023 , 08:56
507
0
A daycare van driver was arrested after a one-year-old girl died after being left in a hot vehicle for hours.
Police responded to the Kidz Of The Future Child Development Center II daycare around 2.30pm on Monday after receiving reports of an unresponsive toddler left in one of their vans. Authorities believe the child was left in the sweltering vehicle for approximately five hours as temperatures outside reached 36C.
The one-year-old girl, identified as Ra'Miyah Worthington, was transported to Nebraska Medical Center but was tragically pronounced dead upon arrival. According to police documents, the child's temperature was around 109 degrees when she was found.
The van's driver, 62-year-old Ryan Williams, was arrested and charged with felony child abuse resulting in death. Williams allegedly told police he forgot to check the van after dropping the children off that morning.
For all the latest news, politics, sports, and showbiz from the USA, go to The Mirror US
Man in 30s dies after being stabbed in park sparking police probe
The van's driver, 62-year-old Ryan Williams, was arrested and charged with felony child abuse (AP)
She was pronounced dead upon arrival at hospital (WOWT)Williams allegedly told police he began unloading children from the van but "was distracted by a young boy who was not wanting to get out of the van and go inside," according to the affidavit.
The child's distraught mother, Sina Johnson, spoke at a rally outside the daycare demanding justice for her daughter. "My baby did not come home. Her siblings did. She didn't. How did y'all forget her?" Johnson said.
The daycare center has been temporarily shut down pending further investigation into the tragedy. Police say the case remains open and active., according to the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services.
"The protection and well-being of children is of the highest priority by the Department of Health and Human Services and we are working with law enforcement as they investigate this tragic death," the agency said in a statement to ABC News.
Her family speaks out over the death of the one-year-old girl (KETV)The National Weather Service in Omaha has issued heat warnings amid sweltering temperatures, reaching at least 100 degree F (38C). The service said: "Dangerous record breaking heat is currently ongoing across the region and expected to continue through Thursday.
"An Excessive Heat Warning is in effect for all of eastern Nebraska and southwest Iowa. Additionally, overnight lows are largely expected to remain above 75 degrees for many."