ALHAMBRA >> Police arrested an Alhambra woman Friday afternoon after she left her 20-month-old daughter inside a car with its windows rolled up for about half an hour, authorities said.
The toddler was crying and dehydrated when removed from the car, which had reached temperatures between 111 and 124 degrees as is sat parked in the afternoon sun, Alhambra police Lt. Gabriel Ponce said. Officials took the girl to a hospital for observation.
Officers arrested Diaohong Zhen, 42, on suspicion of felony child endangerment, the lieutenant said.
A passerby noticed the young girl alone inside the car shortly before 2 p.m. in the parking lot of Park Elementary School, 301 N. Marengo Ave., Ponce said.
School officials checked on the girl and found the car door unlocked, so they took her indoors into the air conditioning and called police, he said.
“Luckily, school staff intervened and rescued the child, who was crying and suffering from dehydration,” Alhambra police officials said in a written statement.
Police found Zhen in the school office, where she was waiting for two of her other children, Ponce said.
Officers measured temperatures ranging from 111 degrees to 124 degrees inside the parked car, the lieutenant added.
A total of five children were placed in the custody of a family friend as the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services launched an investigation, Ponce said.
Police reminded the public that leaving children or pets inside hot cars can result in death.
“Luckily, this story has a happy ending,” according to the police statement.
Information regarding Zhen’s initial court appearance was not available Friday.