Autopsy says toddler found in vehicle died from overheating

BURLINGTON, Ont. — Police near Hamilton say the results of an autopsy indicate a three-year-old boy who was found in a vehicle died from overheating.

Halton regional police said Thursday the autopsy found that the “preliminary cause of death” was hyperthermia, consistent with the child being left in a vehicle and exposed to high temperatures for an extended period of time.

Police have said officers in Burlington, Ont., got a call around 5:30 p.m. Wednesday from a “hysterical” man, indicating that a child was in a vehicle and was not breathing.

They say the boy was outside a grey Ford Escape when emergency crews arrived, and paramedics pronounced him dead.

Police spokeswoman Sgt. Dana Nicholas said Thursday she could not say if the child was with a family member at the time. 

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Data from The Weather Network indicates temperatures reached 26 C in Burlington on Wednesday. Studies have shown the temperature inside a closed vehicle can rise above 45 C, sufficient to cause heat stroke.

Police say the investigation is continuing and no charges have been laid to date.

The Canadian Press