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Distraught Virginia dad, 37, who accidentally left 18-month-old son to die in hot car shoots himself

According to reports, 913 children have died since 1998 because children are left in vehicles under scorching weather with no way out

A father in Virginia, 37, killed himself after realizing that he had left his 18-month-old son in the backseat of a hot car for almost 3 hours on Tuesday, June 28. The incident took place in Chesterfield County when the police were tipped off about this chilling scene. The father was so devastated post the incident that he couldn't live with it and decided to free himself from the struggle. Moreover, the police revealed two phone calls that indicated towards the man was suicidal. Lieutenant Colonel Chris Hensley, with the Chesterfield Police Department, said the man was at his home in the 14100 block of Aldengate Road.

While on their way to the scene, the police received the second phone call which was from a family member explaining that there may be a deceased child in the home. The family member further explained that the 18-month-old toddler was never dropped off at the daycare. Moreover, the police also believe that during this phone call the father explained that he left his son in the car for almost 3 hours and was suicidal. The officials explain that the father realized about his son while he was at work and brought his dead body back to the house. Their identities have not been revealed yet. 

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WRIC reported that when the police arrived at the father's home, they found the car in the driveway with the backdoor still open and an empty car seat. The body of the 18-month-old toddler was found inside the house, whereas the father had taken his life with a firearm and was found dead in the woods in the backyard of his home. The officials have said that they are in constant touch with the deceased toddler's mother and other family members in an active investigation. 

PVH deaths increasing?

This is not the first time someone has been a victim of Pediatric Vehicular Heatstroke (PVH). According to noheatstroke.org, 913 children have died since 1998. The main cause of such deaths is when children are left in vehicles under scorching weather with no way out. The website was founded by meteorologist Jan Null and tracks such deaths. Moreover, the 18-month-old toddler is the 5th person to die in such an accident this year according to Chesterfield Police Department's Twitter post which read, "Prevent child heatstroke deaths: Never leave a child in a car alone. Always check the back seat. Lock unattended vehicle doors. #HeatstrokeKills #CheckForBaby".

Lieutenant Hensley said, "This is a horrible tragedy on so many levels, and our hearts go out to the family and friends that are going to deal with this. This happens almost every year and all we can do is try and take a negative event like this and turn it into a positive so that people take that moment, learn and pause.” The temperature is said to be around the 70s in the council area of Midlothian, and it hasn't been revealed if the child died due to heat exhaustion. Ben Dennis of 8 News tweeted, " BREAKING: An 18-month-old boy died after his father allegedly left him in a vehicle outside his workplace for 3 hours. The 37-year-old father was found shot dead in the woods behind the house after discovering his child, called a family member & was suicidal, per police."