A tragic incident unfolded in Columbia, South Carolina, where a 3-year-old child, identified as Armani Shoemaker, tragically died after being left in a sweltering vehicle. According to WIS, Richland County Sheriff's Department responded to a report of a missing child around 1 p.m. Upon their arrival at the scene, deputies discovered the young child inside the overheated car, and though they tried to render aid, Shoemaker was later pronounced dead at a hospital.

The loss was described as "an unexpected tragedy" by the coroner, as local temperatures soared into the upper 80s. A chilling reminder from Columbia-Richland Fire PIO Mike DeSumma emphasized the dangers of hot vehicles which, he said, can reach temperatures well over 107 degrees as summer approaches. "Look before you lock," DeSumma advised in a statement obtained by WIS, underscoring the importance of vigilance to prevent such incidents.

Fervent efforts by first responders to resuscitate the child were reported by WJCL. The child was sadly pronounced dead after being taken to a nearby hospital. This incident has highlighted the critical nature of child safety in vehicles, especially as temperatures begin to rise with the changing seasons.

It has been reported by WTVM that, DeSumma employs an additional safety measure in his own vehicle: "In our case, we have mounted mirrors that face our child’s car seat," said DeSumma, "Every time we’re looking in the rearview mirror while we’re driving, we’re seeing our kid’s face, so it’s really hard to forget that she’s back there."

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has found that over the past 25 years, more than 965 children have succumbed to heatstroke after being left in or becoming trapped in hot cars. This recent tragedy in Columbia adds to a growing list of similar events, prompting renewed calls for increased awareness and preventative measures to protect the most vulnerable from such incidents.