A 3-month-old baby boy was saved by police in Corona, California, after being found trapped inside a locked car as outside temperatures climbed to dangerous levels.
According to Fox Weather, on June 17, 2025, Corona police officers rescued the infant after responding to a call about a baby left unattended in a parked vehicle with the windows rolled up and the engine turned off during a 95-degree day.
Authorities were alerted to the emergency when someone spotted the infant inside a car in a parking lot during extreme heat conditions. The parked vehicle had no air conditioning running, and all windows were shut. Officers from the Corona Police Department quickly responded to the scene.
When officers arrived, they discovered the child was placed in a car seat in the back of the locked vehicle. Recognizing the severity of the situation, one of the officers smashed the driver’s side window to gain access and remove the child. The baby appeared to be suffering from heat-related discomfort but was safely removed from the car within moments. The infant, a 3-month-old boy, was taken by emergency responders to a local hospital for evaluation. The child was observed overnight and is expected to recover without lasting harm. The prompt response by police likely prevented a much more tragic outcome, according to authorities.
New Video Sheds Light on the Danger
Temperature readings inside the car reached as high as 110 degrees Fahrenheit, according to data from the Corona Fire Department. This internal heat level could quickly become life-threatening, especially to children, who experts say are highly sensitive to temperature increases. The outside temperature in Corona on the day of the incident had climbed to 95 degrees.
The Corona Police Department later released a video showing the rescue, which captured the officer breaking the window and pulling the baby out. The footage was widely shared online as part of a public awareness effort. Authorities say the video serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of leaving children inside vehicles even for short periods. “The No. 1 reason that we posted this video was, precisely that, as a PSA,” said Corona Police Sgt. Robert Montanez, referring to the public service announcement created from the footage. “You cannot leave a kid, a baby, anything, really, that is unable to care for itself, unattended in a vehicle.”
Recent Florida Case Highlights Ongoing Crisis
Just days after this California incident, a more tragic case emerged in Florida when 18-month-old Sebastian died after being left in a hot pickup truck for several hours on June 20, 2025. The boy's father was arrested for allegedly leaving him in the vehicle while he visited a bar and got a haircut. According to authorities, the temperature inside that truck also climbed to dangerous levels during the time the child was alone.
News of this separate Florida case brought national attention to the growing number of heat-related child deaths in vehicles. Officials and safety advocates hope increased awareness can help reduce these preventable tragedies. In 2024 alone, 39 children died in the U.S. due to vehicular heatstroke, up 35% from the previous year. The years 2018 and 2019 hold the grim record for the highest number of these deaths, with 53 children dying in each of those years. Most of these fatalities, data shows, resulted not from intent but from caregivers forgetting the child was inside. These moments of memory lapse can have devastating consequences in a matter of minutes.
Experts Urge Extra Caution for Caregivers
Child safety organizations advise parents and guardians to implement strategies to avoid leaving children behind. One suggestion is to place a personal item like a purse or briefcase in the back seat as a reminder. Others use phone alerts or childcare check-in systems to ensure children are never accidentally left in cars.
Young children are especially at risk because their bodies heat up much faster than those of adults. According to Kids and Car Safety, a child’s body can warm three to five times faster than an adult’s, increasing the risk of heatstroke. That’s why even a few minutes inside a hot car can be fatal. Police hope the dramatic video of the baby’s rescue will encourage people to act if they see a child in danger inside a vehicle. Officers also remind the public that breaking a window during such an emergency is not only legal in many states, but it could also save a life.
Police Praise Officers’ Quick Response
Sgt. Montanez praised the quick thinking of the officers involved in the Corona rescue. “He ended up staying overnight (at the hospital), but fortunately, he is going to recover and be just fine,” Montanez added. He emphasized that timing played a critical role in saving the baby’s life.
With the summer heat intensifying across many U.S. states, police departments and safety groups are stepping up their public warnings. The hope is that increased awareness may prevent even a single child from suffering needlessly. Authorities urge citizens to call 911 immediately if they see a child left unattended in a vehicle. The Corona Police Department’s video continues to be shared online, and officers say many viewers have expressed shock at how quickly the situation could have escalated. The footage has become a central part of ongoing summer safety campaigns across Southern California.
Ongoing Education Remains Essential
Advocacy groups stress that prevention is key in avoiding these tragedies. While technology and laws are improving—with some newer cars offering backseat alert systems—public education is still a critical piece of the solution. Community outreach and parent-focused messaging remain central to those efforts.
For now, the baby rescued in Corona is expected to make a full recovery thanks to the rapid response of first responders. Experts warn, however, that not every child is so fortunate. As the summer continues, public safety officials remain on high alert. The message from both police and child safety organizations remains clear: never leave children unattended in a vehicle, even for a moment. Doing so can mean the difference between life and death.
