Toddler Left In Hot Car In Portillo's Parking Lot

CHICAGO, IL — A crying toddler was recovering after being left in a car Wednesday morning in a parking lot near a Portillo's Hot Dogs restaurant on the Near West Side as the temperature hit 80 degrees, according to a witness, who posted a photo from the incident on Facebook. Chicago police had a person in custody and charges were pending, NBC 5 Chicago reports.

According to the witness, the drive-through staff of the restaurant, 520 W. Taylor St., called police after noticing the sobbing child after 11 a.m. Wednesday, July 19, which also happened to be National Hot Dog Day. The child had been in the car for about 15 minutes with the windowns closed, the witness wrote online, adding that conditions outside were "muggy." (Get Patch real-time email alerts for the latest news for Chicago — or your neighborhood. And iPhone users: Check out Patch's new app.)

The child, who was thought to be 5 years old, was determined to be in good condition by Chicago Fire Department officials at the scene, according to NBC 5. Police eventually found the owner of the car, the report added.

"Seriously, what the hell is wrong with people?" the witness wrote on Facebook.

More via NBC 5 Chicago

Photo via Shutterstock

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