Alabama Toddler Dies in Hot Car While in State Custody

Tragic Hot Car Death of a Toddler

• 💔 A three-year-old boy, Ke’Torrius “K.J.” Starkes Jr., died after being left in a hot car for several hours in Birmingham, Alabama.
• 😔 K.J. was in the custody of a contract employee with the Alabama Department of Human Resources, the state's child protective services agency.
• 🌡️ The incident occurred on a Tuesday with temperatures ranging from 93-96 degrees, feeling like 101-105 degrees with the heat index, and the car was in direct sunlight.

Circumstances of the Incident

• 🚗 A contract worker picked up K.J. from daycare at 9 a.m. for a supervised visit with his father.
• errands The visit ended around 11:30 a.m., but the contract worker allegedly made several personal errands with K.J. in the car.
• 🏠 By 12:30 p.m., the worker returned home, parked the car, and left K.J. strapped in the vehicle with the windows up and engine off.
• ⏰ It was not until around 5:30 p.m., when the daycare called inquiring about K.J.'s absence, that the worker realized the child had been left in the car.
• 911 K.J. was pronounced dead at 6:03 p.m. after 911 was called.

Family and Attorney Statements

• 🗣️ K.J.'s family attorney described the boy as a "joyful," "brilliant," and "happy boy who loved life."
• 💔 The family is struggling to cope with the loss, finding it difficult to comprehend how a child could be left in a hot car unnoticed.

Hot Car Safety Statistics

• ⚠️ According to Kids and Car Safety, this is the first hot car death in Alabama this year and the 16th nationwide.
• 📢 The organization is dedicated to raising awareness about the dangers of hot cars for children and pets.