Twin Infants Dead After Being Left in Hot Car in Georgia

CARROLLTON, GA — Twin girls left in a hot car were found unresponsive Thursday afternoon, according to media reports. At least one of the 15-month-old children was pronounced dead.

The high temperature on Thursday in Carrollton was 87 degrees, but it doesn't have to reach dangerous levels outside to become a threat to people and animals left in a vehicle. July and August are the peak months for hot car deaths.

The AJC is reporting that both children were pronounced dead after being found at 6:50 p.m.

Asa North, 24, is charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter and reckless conduct, according to WSB-TV. Alcohol may have been a factor, police tell reporters.

Hot Car Threat

In the majority of cases of child heatstroke fatality – 53 percent – parents simply forgot their child was in the car, according to NoHeatStroke.org. Babies sleep soundly, and parents are stressed, rushing to get to work or driving on autopilot, not tuned in to a new schedule or change of routine.

Child deaths from heat stroke began trending up dramatically in 1998 along with awareness of the dangers airbags pose to children in the front seat. From 1990 to 1997, a total of 90 reported cases of children dying of heat stroke in cars were reported, an average of just more than 11 per year. From 1998 to 2005, that number more than tripled to 304, an average of 38 per year.

Includes reporting by Mary Ann Barton