New York City firefighters were in the process of extinguishing a car fire Sunday night when they discovered someone alone inside—a 3-year-old child.
Police and firefighters responded to a 911 report of a vehicle on fire just before 9 p.m. The car was parked in a residential Queens neighborhood, just minutes away from John F. Kennedy International Airport.
While fighting the flames, firefighters got the toddler out of the burning vehicle, but the child died of her injuries at Jamaica Hospital in Queens. The New York City Medical Examiner will determine the official cause of death, according to NYPD Detective Annette Shelton.
The girl’s biological father was discovered a short distance away, in a nearby pond attempting to put out flames on his body, a law enforcement source familiar with the investigation tells CNN.
Police took the 39-year-old man into custody and emergency responders took him to an area hospital in serious but stable condition. Although he suffered burns all over his body, he is expected to survive, according to the law enforcement source.
The father and the child’s mother were in the midst of a custody battle, according to the law enforcement source. Both had filed domestic incident reports against the other person, the source said.
No charges have yet been filed, according to the Queens County district attorney’s Office.
The cause of the fire has not yet been determined. Fire marshals and the NYPD continue to investigate, an FDNY spokesman told CNN Monday.
Minnesota Boy Left in Car for Hours, Dies; Father Charged
In a similar story, a 4-year-old Minnesota boy died after his father left him in a hot SUV for hours while he worked, authorities say.
The father, 26-year-old Kristopher Taylor of Apple Valley, is charged with second-degree manslaughter.
Just an awful story. Kristopher Taylor jailed & charged w/ 2nd degree Manslaughter in death of 4yo son. Apparently, Taylor allowed the boy to stay in his hot vehicle while he worked at this wknd’s burger fest at CHS Field in St Paul. 1st court appearance this afternoon. @FOX9 pic.twitter.com/ITvws1PuZd
— Paul Blume (@PaulBlume_FOX9) May 6, 2019
The boy died Saturday in St. Paul. Authorities say Taylor left the child in the vehicle for hours while he worked the Grillfest event at CHS Field. Taylor returned to the SUV at about 5:15 p.m. to find the boy was stiff.
The temperature reached 70 degrees Fahrenheit, and the criminal complaint says the boy was in the sun.
Family just released pix of 4yo Riley Taylor. Child died in hot car over wknd. Father, Kristopher Taylor charged w/ Manslaughter. A friend of Kristopher telling me: “I know he loved his son. That’s why he worked 2 jobs. Such a sad ending. My heart breaks for him & his family.” pic.twitter.com/RGJCELZa8r
— Paul Blume (@PaulBlume_FOX9) May 6, 2019
According to the complaint, Taylor told police he left the window open a crack and gave the boy a hand-held video game.
It isn’t clear whether Taylor has an attorney to comment on his behalf.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
