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Toddler Dies After Locked In Car

Incident Remains Under Investigation

POSTED: Monday, May 17, 2004
UPDATED: 4:32 pm CDT May 17, 2004

A 20-month-old boy in Katy, Waller County, died Monday after he apparently locked himself in his mother's car in front of the family's home, police told News2Houston.

Video

A neighbor witnessed the mother's discovery of the toddler Sunday around 2 p.m. on Franz Road. Temperatures at that time were around 84 degrees.

"I saw a woman running toward the car and she started to bang on the window. Then I saw a man come out from the house and throw her the keys. They opened the door and took the baby out as an ambulance showed up," a neighbor, who spoke in Spanish and asked to remain anonymous, told News2Houston.

The boy's mother, Dena Davidson, said she woke from a nap and found her son unconscious in her car.

Police said Davidson and her boyfriend were asleep inside the house when the toddler managed to get out of the home, climb into the unlocked car, turn on the hazard lights and lock himself inside.

The mother's call for help was released by Katy police.

911: "Katy 911. What's your emergency?"

Mother: "Yes, I had just woke up, and I was looking for my son. I seen that my hazard lights were on in my car. I went out there and I seen my son in there."

Mother: "We were looking for him and we couldn't find him. He must have gone outside. Car was locked. I don't think he could get back out."

The mother said the boy was unresponsive but breathing.

Mother: "I gave him a breathing tube, but he's not waking up."

911: OK. Don't worry. The ambulance is on their way, OK, ma'am?

Hospital officials said the child, who suffered from asthma, passed away Monday shortly before noon. It is not known how long the child was inside the vehicle

Neighbors said the family is very nice and that they were shocked by the tragedy.

The case remains under investigation by the Katy Police Department and Children's Protective Services. Officers plan to interview family members, friends and neighbors.

The Waller County District Attorney's Office will decide if charges will be filed. Charges could include injury to a child or serious bodily injury.

Officials released the following tips to prevent similar tragedies.
  • Put deadbolts on house doors.
  • Place locks high on doors where children cannot reach them.
  • Make sure side doors are secure.

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