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Garland Police Investigate 5-Year-Old’s Hot Car Death

8/21/2026

22 3 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Garland Police say a 5-year-old girl died after being left in a hot car.
Temperatures topped 100 °F, reaching 108 °F in Garland and 104 °F at DFW Airport.
A family member brought the children home from school, leaving the girl inside as the sibling exited.
Family performed CPR before responders arrived, yet the child died at the hospital.
Police have filed no charges, continue investigating, and announced community counseling services.

History

Historical Context

The July 1999 heat wave that swept the United States left 502 deaths nationwide, a reminder of Texas’ recurring extreme heat. Earlier, the 1980 Dallas-Fort Worth heat wave set a 113 °F record and produced 42 consecutive days above 100 °F, and the 1980 event claimed at least 1,700 lives, illustrating a long-standing pattern of deadly high-temperature events.

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Story summary

Garland Police say a 5-year-old girl died after being left in a hot car.
Temperatures topped 100 °F, reaching 108 °F in Garland and 104 °F at DFW Airport.
A family member brought the children home from school, leaving the girl inside as the sibling exited.
Family performed CPR before responders arrived, yet the child died at the hospital.
Police have filed no charges, continue investigating, and announced community counseling services.

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