A Tennessee family is grieving after a 3-year-old boy died Tuesday after he was discovered inside a disabled van on his family’s property.
The Cheatham County Sheriff’s Office said investigators believe the child may have entered the vehicle by himself before becoming trapped inside. Authorities are still working to determine precisely how he got into the van and how long he remained there.
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The boy was reported missing from his family’s home on Navaho Trail, near Pegram, at approximately 1 p.m. Tuesday, according to investigators.
An adult family member who was caring for the child and his siblings told authorities that they had gone down for a nap. After waking, the caregiver realized the boy could not be found and contacted the sheriff’s office.
Before deputies reached the property, the child’s minor sibling discovered him inside an old van located outside the home.
Authorities said the vehicle was not operational and remained parked on the property. Lt. Shannon Heflin explained that investigators believe the youngster somehow climbed into the van and shut the door, but may not have possessed the strength or ability to open it again.
Deputies arrived shortly after the boy was located, with CPR already underway. Emergency responders continued efforts to revive him, but those attempts were unsuccessful.
The intense heat was a major concern for investigators.
Heflin noted that temperatures outside were already dangerous and said there was no way to know exactly how extreme conditions became inside the enclosed vehicle. Detectives are now examining the circumstances surrounding the incident, including when the child entered the van and how long he may have been inside.
The sheriff’s office also said the boy had previously demonstrated a tendency to leave the house, a detail investigators are considering as they reconstruct what happened.
Officials confirmed that the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services and the District Attorney’s Office are involved in the investigation.
While authorities have not announced additional details about potential circumstances surrounding the child’s death, Heflin used the tragedy to issue an urgent warning to parents and caregivers about the dangers of hot vehicles.
He emphasized that children should never be left unattended inside a vehicle, particularly during periods of extreme heat. Even a vehicle parked on private property can become dangerously hot in a short period of time.
