A three-year-old Arizona girl died after she was accidentally left in a hot car when her father forgot she was still in her seat. Charlotte Jones was home sick from pre-school on the Tuesday after Labor Day in 2019. Her father, Scott Jones, followed his normal routine by driving his older children to school. Charlotte went with him, but when he returned to the driveway, he believed he was alone.

Scott went inside, started work, and did not realize Charlotte was still in the truck. Temperatures reached 98°F that day. Four hours later, his wife called to check on them, and Scott suddenly understood what had happened. Angela Jones told Fox News Digital that she heard panic in his voice as he said he did not think he had taken their daughter out of the car. He ran outside and called 911, but Charlotte had already died from the heat.

Tragically, this type of loss is more common than many people realize. Research shows that dozens of children in the United States die each year after being left in hot cars, often because a parent forgets or assumes someone else handled drop-off duties. Janette Fennell of Kids and Car Safety says most cases involve loving, attentive parents facing a momentary lapse during a busy day.

Charlotte’s family describes her as lively, funny, and full of personality. They speak about her often and try to keep her memory close in their daily lives.