NewsNational

Actions

4-year-old girl left in vehicle overnight in tow lot

Posted
and last updated

A 4-year-old girl was left alone inside a minivan overnight in a Milwaukee tow lot, Public Works Commissioner nominee Jeff Polenske said Tuesday at a news conference. 

Late Monday night, an impaired female driver was pulled over and arrested for an OWI when the vehicle was towed. Officers removed a 10-month-old child from the vehicle, but neglected to remove a 4-year-old girl from the backseat.

Polenske said it wasn't until a tow lot employee heard the young girl crying that the girl was removed. Officials towed the car to the lot on around 12:30 a.m. The child was not discovered until around 8:30 a.m. 

Upon discovery, the child was checked by fire officials for immediate harm and later transported to the hospital for further review. 

Data from local meteorologists shows temperatures dipped as low as 19 degrees Monday night while the child was in the car.

Milwaukee Public Works is reviewing more on the situation.