A tragic incident unfolded in New Jersey when a four-month-old infant lost his life after being left unattended in a hot car for an extended duration. The father of the child, Moshe Ehrlich, has been charged with child endangerment in connection with the incident, according to law enforcement officials.
The exact duration for which the infant was left alone in Ehrlich’s Toyota minivan on a Tuesday in Lakewood remains undisclosed by investigators. On that day, the temperature in the area reached a high of 63 degrees. Eyewitness accounts and local news footage suggest that the vehicle was parked in direct sunlight.
The Lakewood police department received a distress call about an unresponsive child around 1:45 p.m. The officers were dispatched to a residential area near Fifth Street, situated between Monmouth and Princeton avenues. This location is in close proximity to a kosher supermarket and two synagogues. Ehrlich’s residence is reportedly three blocks away from the spot where the van was parked.
Upon arrival, the officers found Hatzolah Medical Services attempting to provide lifesaving aid to the infant. The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office confirmed this in their statement. The child was then rushed to Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus in Lakewood, where he was later pronounced dead.
Further investigation by detectives led to the conclusion that the infant was left alone in the vehicle for a significant period. Ehrlich was arrested on Thursday and charged with child endangerment after he surrendered to the police. He was released by a judge a few hours after his arrest.
The family has not responded to any messages regarding the incident. The name of the infant has not been disclosed by the investigators.