Child dies after being left in minivan in Lakewood, officials say - nj.com

UPDATE: Prosecutor’s office investigating. Baby was 4 months old.

A child has died after being found in a minivan in Lakewood on Tuesday, Mayor Ray Coles said.

The mayor did not have any additional details Tuesday night. Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said the child involved in the incident was an infant, the Asbury Park Press reported.

It was unknown Tuesday night how the child died or whether anyone was being questioned or charged.

Lakewood Police directed all media inquiries to the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office on Tuesday. A spokesperson for the prosecutor’s office did not respond to a request for comment.

Fifth Street in Lakewood was closed earlier in the day for the investigation, the Press reported. Police tape surrounded a Toyota Sienna minivan, which was later seen being towed away around 5 p.m., the newspaper reported.

Last July, 28-year-old Avraham Chaitovsky was charged in the hot car death of his 8-week-old daughter, which also occurred in Lakewood. Temperatures in the area on the day of that incident reached 89 degrees, with a heat index of 103.

On Tuesday, temperatures only reached the low 60s in the Ocean County area in the afternoon.

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Nicolas Fernandes may be reached at [email protected].

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