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Concerned persons rescue child left in locked car

- Police said to be investigating
A child left alone in a locked car in the vicinity of the Richard C. Stoutt Building and Government Law Offices was rescued by concerned persons yesterday October 23, 2019. Photo: VINO/File
The ordeal brought back dreaded memories of when 11-month-old Zaria C. Farhon was found dead in her father’s vehicle at Wickham’s Cay II, Tortola, on April 30, 2018. Photo: Team of Reporters/File
The ordeal brought back dreaded memories of when 11-month-old Zaria C. Farhon was found dead in her father’s vehicle at Wickham’s Cay II, Tortola, on April 30, 2018. Photo: Team of Reporters/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- When a passerby noticed a child alone in a locked car in the heart of Road Town shortly before noon yesterday October 23, 2019, they did not leave to chance that the parent or guardian would have returned in short order.

The concerned member of the public instead made a proactive move by attempting to let the child out of the vehicle while summoning the relevant authorities.

The incident took place in the vicinity of the Richard C. Stoutt Building and Government Law Offices.

Police & Fire and Rescue called in

According to information reaching our news desk, the child was alone in a locked car belonging to a pregnant mother who works in a nearby office. "She probably didn’t expect to stay as long as she did, I am not sure how long the child was there, it was long enough for me to panic and for the police and fire to be called," a concerned resident said.

Although the police and Virgin Islands Fire and Rescue Services were summoned, the child was taken out of the vehicle before they arrived. "Police came too. I empathise with the mother who was obviously distraught by this but we cannot take these chances," explained one woman who witnessed the incident.

"There are so many what ifs we have to consider when attempting to make decisions to leave underaged children unattended. My what if was, had that mother stumbled or had gone into labour where she was and couldn’t relate that she had left her child in the car. What if someone had pi$$*d her off and they got into an argument and her mind went totally away from remembering the child was out there waiting? Lots of what ifs man, lots of what ifs, we can’t take chances."

Investigation

Virgin Islands News Online has been informed that the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) is investigating the matter but, according to the eyewitness, "I hope the mother is counselled and not prosecuted. I stood there and realised she has paid the price already for that neglect. Her stress level went over the Eiffel Tower [and] she look like she was going into premature labour."

Virgin Islands Fire and Rescue Services confirmed receiving the call but said the child was removed to safety prior to their arrival. 

Hot car death

The ordeal brought back dreaded memories of when 11-month-old Zaria C. Farhon was found dead in her father’s vehicle at Wickham’s Cay II, Tortola, on April 30, 2018.

Reports reaching our newsroom were that the father of Zaria was supposed to take her to a day-care in Road Town on the morning of that ill-fated day but apparently forgot and instead proceeded to his place of work where he parked his car, leaving the child in the vehicle for an entire work day.

The infant was discovered dead sometime in the afternoon.

18 Responses to “Concerned persons rescue child left in locked car”

  • GG (24/10/2019, 10:43) Like (22) Dislike (16) Reply
    some people shouldn’t be allowed to breed period. And left the child in that parking lot of all parking lots on the island like come on .. guess there wasn’t no babysitter. Tortola should have DCF services for things like this
    • lotta (24/10/2019, 11:27) Like (15) Dislike (8) Reply
      @Wow did Tortola send them to get children. They need to stop being a burden to the country and get them shit together
  • question (24/10/2019, 10:53) Like (16) Dislike (3) Reply
    Was the engine and AC on in the car? Or was the car completely turned off? Were the windows left down?
    • ire (24/10/2019, 14:21) Like (15) Dislike (1) Reply
      While one may want to know those facts, it matters not.. a child SHOULD NOT be left alone in a lock or unlock vehicle, in public spaces or even at home.
  • GG (24/10/2019, 10:59) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    Wow! Thats all i have to say wow!
  • sympathize (24/10/2019, 11:16) Like (32) Dislike (0) Reply
    I'm thankful it wasn't worse. People be careful. If we forget our cell phones, we remember within 15 seconds and go back for it. Don't leave your babies in the vehicle for no time. period. Don't leave them to run no where for a minute, don't put them in the backseat and then forget them and then hold youall heads later. Good looking out for the passer-by who notices. The reason why tinted windows should not be allowed because if that was the case, the headlines could have been different on 6pm news
  • question (24/10/2019, 14:20) Like (12) Dislike (0) Reply
    Not advocating leaving a child in a car for prolonged periods however, the story doesn't tell the age of the child or whether the car was left on with the ac on. If the child was left longer than half-hour then it's madness because anything can happen in that time. However, it seems this has been over-sensationalized as we don't have all the details. People leave kids (7,8,9 yrs old) in their vehicles with the ac running all the time to run into the store or bank, not saying it's right but not sure how this compares to leaving a few months old kid in a hot car all day. In any case we all need to be careful and not let the stresses of life cause us to do stuff that we will regret for the rest of our lives.
  • boy (24/10/2019, 14:54) Like (3) Dislike (7) Reply
    she is an actor that was a fake stress level.
  • My my. (24/10/2019, 18:50) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply
    Do it matter if the AC was on or off or if the child is 5,6,or7. This should never happen. It is called neglect and child endangerment. Are people that stupid to understand what are actual facts. God man.
  • wise up (24/10/2019, 19:23) Like (26) Dislike (3) Reply
    Ok the child is ok but WHY PUT THE PICTURE OF THE CHILD THATS DIED IT JUST BEINGS BACK MEMORY ANS HURT TO THE PARENTS
  • Hmmmm (24/10/2019, 21:35) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    FEARON. Her surname is or was Fearon. Let's not cover up people's deeds.
  • Zariah's family (24/10/2019, 22:32) Like (16) Dislike (3) Reply
    We the family of an angel we lost know that there is no excuse for neglect like this. No matter the age, a youngster should not be left in a vehicle unattended for any reason. High stress, work and other excuses cannot bring back a child. How can you forget your child in a car. You take your handbag, your cell and other things and you're so bust you forget your innocent commitment? Children count on their parents to protect them at all costs. Moms get tired and outright drained and depressed. When we feel overwhelmed just ask a friend buddy to help you cross check.
    Thank goodness the headline didn't end in sorrow.
    Please VINO, we don't mind you bringing awareness using our angels name, but please take down her picrure. Some in the family have not gotten over our loss and this only provoked our grief today.
    Thank you for your consideration
    • @Zariah's family (26/10/2019, 13:28) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      This is not Zaria's family's comment. If you were you would know to spell her name correctly first and foremost. Further you would not have encouraged her father to exercise his right to remain silent like he never knew her. There is so much more to Zaria's demise and you and the one who brought it about knows it. Purporting to know her is blasphemous and only adding sin to cover up sin. Leave her picture up she was already killed publicly.
    • Who you be? (26/10/2019, 13:32) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Zaria's family? Your angel yet you cannot spell her name correctly? What a joke.
    • My condolences (26/10/2019, 13:50) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      You sound suspicious. What's dad's excuse? Zaria's family knows it was the father and not the mother so why does your comment seem to have a concealed agenda. Just saying.....My condolences all the same.
  • musa (25/10/2019, 05:15) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    Find her or at least a ticket&take her driver license for 4 yrs so the next child can be safe.
  • Honest Observer (27/10/2019, 19:08) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    @ Zariah's family - You cannot spell the child's name correctly yet you purport to be her family. You really do sound suspicious. Your request to remove the child's picture isn't even reasonable especially when the article seeks to highlight the dangers of child neglect. I think your pretense, incorrect spelling of Zaria's name and your demand to remove the "angels" picture for your own agenda would be more disturbing to the family than their child's picture in this article... more in the mortar than meets the eye.
  • Different strokes (29/10/2019, 09:34) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7623695/Grandfather-charged-Puerto-Rico-cruise-ship-death.html

    Grandfather who 'accidentally' dropped his 18-month-old granddaughter from open window on 11th floor of a cruise ship is charged over her death in Puerto Rico. Some people get away with murder while some don't.


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