At Preschool Pickup, Dad Opens Car Door—and Screams

A Florida preschool pickup ended in tragedy Monday when a toddler was discovered dead in the back of an SUV. The father pulled up to A World of Discovery Academy in Plantation to pickup the boy, variously described as 18 months and 23 months old, only to realize that he'd never dropped him off, academy owner Leslie Novoa told WSVN, adding that she and the father then discovered the boy in the back of the black vehicle. "He opened the door, then slammed it shut," she said, per the Sun Sentinel. "And he let out this scream."

Police and fire crews responded around 5:39pm, confirming the death that is now under investigation, per ABC News. Novoa called it a devastating situation for a "very loving" family that has had children at the early childhood education center for years. She said the father and mother shared drop-off duties but had reported that their two older children would not be in attendance on Monday, meaning staff were not concerned when the younger child did not arrive, per the Sun Sentinel. At least eight other children have died in hot cars in the US this year, including three in Florida, the outlet reports. No charges have been announced in this case.