Boy, 4, found dead inside car

By Eileen Kelley
Cincinnati Enquirer staff writer

BATAVIA TWP. - Authorities are investigating the death of a 4-year-old boy who was found inside a car Monday evening.

Steve Jones found his son Andy about 5:15 p.m. He was unresponsive to lifesaving attempts, said Clermont County Sheriff A.J. "Tim" Rodenberg.

The car, a Honda Accord, had its windows up and doors shut. It was parked in front of a garage in the 3600 block of Tanbark Court in the Sycamore Creek subdivision off Amelia-Olive Branch Road.

Rodenberg called Andy's death "a tragic accident.''

Family members called authorities after they discovered Andy missing. Rodenberg said it appeared that the boy wandered into the car and was found with a hand-held computerized game.

Neighbors who were celebrating the Fourth of July heard the screams of family members and rushed to their yard, where the child lay unconscious. Family and neighbors repeatedly tried to revive the boy.

The child was taken to the Hamilton County Coroner's Office, where doctors are expected to perform an autopsy to determine the cause of death.

Officials said they are investigating the boy's death as caused by heat exhaustion. Cars can heat in summertime to well over 120 degrees in a matter of minutes.

A medical helicopter also responded to the scene.

Hours later, neighbors said they were continuing their holiday gatherings as a way to try to bring a sense of normalcy back into the neighborhood