PUNTA GORDA, Fla. — A six-month-old left in a locked van landed a father in jail in Charlotte County.

People walking around Gilchrist Park in Punta Gorda heard a baby crying last Thursday. The windows were up. The air conditioning was off. 

“You don’t see the parents anywhere?” the 911 dispatcher asked witnesses.

“No, the van, nobody is near the van. No one’s even in the park,” the young couple said.

As police arrived, Derek Hansen came running over to the car. The child was hot to the touch and evaluated by EMS.

Punta Gorda Police Lt. Justin Davoult said it’s reported the baby was in that van for up to 30 minutes. They arrested Hansen, 40, for child neglect. 

Hansen claimed as he arrived at the park, his two other kids jumped out and ran to the playground. He followed behind, forgetting the infant. 

“Something like that could still be very dangerous, so even if it’s not an intentional act, it’s still a crime,” Lt. Davoult said. 

Florida ranks the highest this year in terms of the number of children who died from hot cars. There have been six fatalities so far this year in the Sunshine State. Thankfully, this baby didn’t add to the statistic. 

As a good Samaritan in Florida, you are legally allowed to break a window to save a child or pet from a hot car.