A parking lot full of cars.Jethro Soudant/Getty Images/iStockphoto
Police in Milton, Ont., say charges could be laid against the mother of three young children who were found in a car that was parked in hot weather in a retail parking lot Wednesday evening.
Halton Region police say they were called at about 6:45 p.m. after someone noticed the children aged between 4 and 12 in the car as it sat in full sunlight in an "expectant mother" parking space.
It was 32 degrees Celsius outside at the time, although the humidity made it feel warmer.
Police say the car had its engine turned off and all four windows were opened about seven centimetres.
Officers persuaded the oldest child to unlock a door to get some air flowing through the car and say the youngest appeared to be sleeping but was sweating profusely. The children were checked by paramedics and appeared to be suffering no ill effects.
About 11 minutes after police arrived, the 38-year-old mother returned and explained why she left her children in the vehicle, although police have not revealed what she told them.
Police say they will review video surveillance to see how long the children were in the vehicle before they arrived, then determine what charges could be laid against the unidentified woman.