Child dies after left in car at Houston school parking lot

By DALE LEZON AND JENNIFER RADCLIFFE
Copyright 2008 Houston Chronicle

Oct. 10, 2008, 6:08PM

Houston police are investigating the death an infant girl who was left in a car in the parking lot of Rucker Elementary School today in Southeast Houston.

Houston fire fighters were called about 2 p.m. to the school at 5201 Vinett and found the 7-month-old girl unresponsive and alerted police, said John Cannon, a spokesman for the Houston Police Department.

The child was taken to Memorial Hermann Southeast, where she was pronounced dead. Cannon said he did not know if any charges had been filed in the incident.

A worker at the school left the baby in his vehicle when he reported to work this morning, said Lisa Kinney, a spokeswoman for the Houston Independent School District. Kinney said he returned to the Ford Taurus station wagon later in the afternoon.

District officials said they're waiting to learn more about the situation.

"This is a tragedy," Kinney said, who adding that the district needed to refer all questions to police.

dale.lezon@chron.com

jennifer.radcliffe@chron.com