BROOKWOOD, Alabama — A heartbreaking tragedy unfolded in Tuscaloosa County after a 1-year-old boy died Wednesday evening after being left inside a hot vehicle for several hours, according to local authorities.
The incident happened in the 11000 block of Stone Ridge Court in Brookwood, where deputies responded around 5 p.m. after receiving reports of an unresponsive child inside a vehicle. When emergency crews arrived, family members had already discovered the toddler still strapped into his car seat inside the car.
Officials said the child was pronounced dead at the scene.
Authorities identified the child’s father as 30-year-old Logan Keith Chewning. Investigators say he was the only adult responsible for caring for the boy throughout the day.
According to the Tuscaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, Chewning admitted he had been drinking alcohol at different times during the day and had even left the home at one point to buy more alcohol. During questioning, he reportedly told investigators he believed his son was asleep inside his crib and claimed he accidentally left the child in the vehicle.
Investigators say the child had been inside the hot car for an extended period of time while outdoor temperatures climbed into the mid-90s across the area. Authorities also noted that Chewning could not explain why he never checked on the child during the day.
The exact amount of time the toddler remained inside the vehicle has not yet been released.
An autopsy will be conducted to determine the official cause of death, though investigators believe extreme heat exposure played a major role in the tragedy.
Following the investigation, deputies arrested Chewning on a manslaughter charge. He was booked into the Tuscaloosa County Jail, where he is currently being held without bond.
The case remains under active investigation as authorities continue gathering evidence and reviewing the circumstances surrounding the child’s death.
Hot car deaths involving children continue to be a serious concern across the United States during summer months, especially when temperatures rapidly rise inside parked vehicles within minutes.
