CLARK COUNTY, WA – A Clark County sheriff’s deputy smashed a vehicle window to rescue a non-responsive 2-year-old boy left inside a hot car while his parents were grocery shopping.
The Dramatic Rescue
The incident unfolded after bystanders noticed the toddler alone in a parked vehicle and called 911. Outside temperatures had reached 92°F, and the vehicle’s engine was turned off with only a small crack in the rear window.
Passersby gathered around the car to try and block the sun. Newly released bodycam footage shows a witness telling arriving Deputy Ben Hulsey, “He’s fading.” Deputy Hulsey found the child sweating heavily, strapped into a car seat with his head tilted to the side, and failing to respond.
Quick Action Prevents Tragedy
Deputy Hulsey acted quickly, retrieving a tool to smash the vehicle’s window, unlocking the door, and pulling the boy to safety. “Let’s get you in my car where it’s cool,” Hulsey can be heard saying in the video.
Investigators believe the toddler was trapped in the heat for approximately 16 minutes. The parents were located inside a nearby grocery store, where authorities say they had been shopping for a half-hour.
Criminal Charges And Legal Protections
Both parents now face criminal charges of Reckless Endangerment, and Child Protective Services (CPS) has been notified.
Following questions from the public regarding the rescue, the Clark County Sheriff’s Office clarified Washington state law:
- A recent law provides limited civil liability protection for citizens who act in good faith.
- Good Samaritans can legally break a window to save a child or animal believed to be in imminent danger inside a hot vehicle.
Authorities issued a stark warning ahead of the summer season, noting that vehicular heatstroke killed 31 children in the U.S. last year. Officials emphasize that a vehicle’s interior can reach deadly temperatures within minutes, even with a window cracked.
