A 23-month-old boy was found Monday inside the family’s SUV parked outside A World of Discovery Academy in Plantation, Florida, in what the daycare owner described as a case of a toddler left in SUV, officials and the daycare said. Leslie Novoa, the owner of the center, said she and the child’s father called 911 after discovering the child unresponsive.
Plantation police and Plantation Fire Department personnel responded to the scene at about 5:39 p.m., and firefighters pronounced the child dead at the location, officials said. Authorities have not released a cause of death and describe the circumstances as under investigation.
toddler left in SUV: How it happened
According to the daycare owner, Novoa, the child’s father arrived at the center to pick up his son and discovered the child still in the back seat of the family’s SUV. Novoa told reporters she and the father immediately called 911.
Novoa said the father realized he had never dropped the child off earlier that morning. That account is an allegation provided by the daycare owner and has not been independently confirmed by investigators, the Plantation Police Department said.
Emergency response and scene
The Plantation Police Department and Plantation Fire Department both responded to the 911 call placed from the daycare. Fire crews and paramedics arrived at the scene and declared the child deceased on site.
Plantation police released a brief statement saying, “The circumstances remain under investigation,” and asked anyone with information to come forward. The department did not provide additional details about the medical cause of death pending further examination.
Daycare response and community reaction
A World of Discovery Academy issued a statement offering condolences to the family and saying the school was cooperating with investigators and providing support to students and staff. Novoa, who owns the center and has known the family for years, described the parents as loving and said the community is reeling.
“This is hard for the parents, hard for us,” Novoa told a local outlet. “This is sad to see this family — a wonderful family — to go through so much pain.” School officials said they had informed families and were making counseling available.
Neighbors and parents at the center expressed shock and sympathy, with several attendees saying they were offering support to the child’s family and staff as the investigation continues.
Why this matters: hot car risk and safety context
Incidents involving children left in vehicles remain a serious public-safety concern. The nonprofit Kids and Car Safety reports that about 40 children die in hot cars in the United States each year, and roughly half of those fatalities occur after a parent or caregiver unintentionally leaves a child inside a vehicle.
Experts say multiple factors can contribute to such tragedies, including changes in routine, caregiver distraction, or mistaken belief that someone else has already dropped off the child. Even when temperatures are moderate, enclosed vehicles can heat quickly and create life-threatening conditions for young children.
Practical prevention steps recommended by safety groups include placing an item you need—like a phone or work badge—next to the child seat as a reminder, establishing caregiver checklists, and using available car-seat reminder technologies. Families and caregivers can find more resources at Kids and Car Safety.
Investigation and what comes next
Plantation police said they are conducting a standard investigation into the circumstances and timeline of the boy’s death. Investigative steps commonly include reviewing 911 and traffic camera footage, interviewing witnesses and family members, examining the vehicle, and coordinating with the medical examiner to determine a cause of death.
Authorities have not indicated whether any criminal charges are expected. The Plantation Police Department asked anyone with information to contact their tip line to assist investigators.
Family members and the daycare have asked for privacy as they grieve. The center said it will continue to communicate with families and make counseling available to students and staff affected by the loss.
This report is based on statements from the daycare owner Leslie Novoa and official accounts from the Plantation Police Department and the Plantation Fire Department, as well as reporting by Fox News. Details remain under investigation and may change as authorities release further information.
Sources: Fox News (Florida toddler dies after father realizes child was left in SUV during daycare pickup), statements from the Plantation Police Department and Plantation Fire Department, and Kids and Car Safety (KidsAndCars.org).
