A mother in San Antonio, Texas, was arrested after a good Samaritan assisted in rescuing her three children from a heated car after she left them in the vehicle for nearly an hour while shopping, according to the police.
The San Antonio Police Department stated in its preliminary report that officers were dispatched to the location after receiving a call from a bystander who informed them that children were present inside a vehicle that had been shut off. The initial responders discovered a 1-month-old, a 2-year-old, and a 4-year-old in the vehicle.
“The mother of the children (suspect) was present at the scene and reported that she entered a store without realizing the duration of her absence,” the department stated. “The children were in the car for approximately 50 minutes, as determined by the information that was collected.”
According to the report, Angela Garza–Amador was apprehended on June 28 and has been accused of three counts of abandoning/endangering a child. According to the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office, she was released on bond on June 29.
It is uncertain whether Garza–Amador has legal representation.
According to CNN affiliate KENS, the woman who rescued the children and captured the moment on video was en route to a children’s clothing store when she spotted a young boy in the vehicle adjacent to her.
She stated that she was compelled to investigate the vehicle, as she felt her “mother’s instincts.” She discovered an additional child inside the vehicle and immediately notified the store employees to contact 911. She then attempted to unlock the vehicle door and assisted the children while awaiting the arrival of first responders.
“The boy was crying and was sweating profusely.” The woman, who wished to remain anonymous, stated to KENS, “It appeared as though he was struggling for breath as if they were already on the brink of disaster.” “A significant number of parents assume that it is acceptable to delay their return, but there are numerous occurrences that can occur within that time frame.”
The three-year-old boy is seen in the video crying and struggling to breathe as at least three women assist in removing the three children from the vehicle, including a baby from its car seat.
She further stated, “I reside across town; I had not visited the store I was intending to visit in a decade.” “I believe that God sent me to that location because of those children.”
At that time, the temperature in the San Antonio region ranged from 98 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit. According to a chart from the National Weather Service that compares the temperatures of the outside and inside the vehicle, the temperature inside a vehicle that has an outside temperature of 93 degrees could reach as high as 130 degrees after one hour.
According to the preliminary police report, the children were transported to a hospital for treatment and were anticipated to be discharged on the same day.
According to the police, the incident was reported to Child Protective Services.
A spokesperson for the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services confirmed to CNN that there was no open case involving this family when the report of this incident was received, even though the details of investigations are confidential per law. “The children were not placed in the custody of the Child Protective Services (CPS) but were instead placed in the care of their family.”
According to Kids and Car Safety, an organization that investigates and records car fatality statistics, there have been at least seven fatalities of children in heated cars in 2024. Since 1990, at least 1,090 children have perished in hot vehicles across the country.
