Kingsville Police detectives continue to investigate the death of a 1-year-old child.

Officers responded to a child not breathing call at 212 E. Fairview just before 5 p.m. on Wednesday.

The mother told officers that she had returned home from picking up her children and had apparently left the infant in the car, parked in the driveway of the home, according to a press statement issued by Chief of Police Ricardo Torres.

“The child was in the vehicle for approximately 45 minutes before the mother realized the child’s location,” Torres said.

“As the mother screamed for assistance, a neighbor attempted to assist in reviving the child,” the chief said. Officers arrived and performed CPR until Kingsville EMS arrived and transported the infant to the Kingsville hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

At the time of the 9-1-1 call, the temperature was 91 degrees and the heat index was 102 degrees. Kingsville Chief of Police Ricardo Torres said “parents need to be aware of their children’s locations during this hottest time of the year. A child is in danger if in a vehicle for just a few minutes.”

Kingsville Police are still investigating the case. The investigation will be handed over to the District Attorney. Child Protective Services is also investigating.

Chief Torres said that even in cool temperatures, cars can heat up to dangerous temperatures very quickly.

“Even with the windows cracked open, interior temperatures can rise almost 20 degrees Fahrenheit within the first 10 minutes,” he said.

“Anyone left inside is at risk for serious heat-related illnesses or even death,” the chief said.

The Kingsville fatality is the fourth in Texas attributed to a child being left in a car, according to Jan Null of the Department of Geosciences at San Francisco State University, which tracks such deaths.

A study appears in the journal, “Pediatrics.”

Children who are left unattended in parked cars are at greatest risk for heat stroke, and possibly death, Torres said.

He outlined the following recommendations when traveling with children:

• Never leave infants, children or pets in a parked car, even if the windows are cracked open.

• To remind yourself that a child is in the car, keep a stuffed animal in the car seat. When the child is buckled in, place the stuffed animal in the front with the driver.

• When leaving your car, check to be sure everyone is out of the car. Do not overlook any children who have fallen asleep in the car.

“Our citizens need to remember that our children are our greatest asset and we need to be ever vigilant to protect them since they are unable to protect themselves,” the chief said.