A 24-year-old woman has been charged with endangering the welfare of a child after allegedly leaving four young children unattended inside a vehicle parked outside a Walmart in Howell.
According to Howell police, the incident occurred Sunday afternoon at the Walmart on Route 9. The children, ranging in age from 1 to 11 years old, were discovered by concerned passersby, who noticed they were sweating inside the parked vehicle despite the air conditioner reportedly running.
According to New Jersey 101.5, the vehicle’s window had been left open “by a decent amount,” but authorities believe the air conditioning may have stopped working after one of the children accidentally pressed one of the vehicle’s controls.
A source told the station there is no indication the woman intended to harm the children.
The children were safely removed from the vehicle, and the woman was subsequently charged with endangering the welfare of a child.
Authorities continue to remind parents and caregivers that temperatures inside a parked vehicle can rise to dangerous levels within minutes, even when windows are partially open or the air conditioning is believed to be operating.
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