SAN ANTONIO, TX – In a harrowing reminder of the dangers of hot cars, a San Antonio mother faces serious charges after leaving her young children, including a 1-month-old, unattended in a vehicle while temperatures soared. On June 28, Angela Garza-Amador was arrested and is now facing three counts of child endangerment.

A passerby’s concern potentially saved the lives of Garza-Amador’s children. Around 2 p.m., the individual noticed a 4-year-old boy in distress inside a parked car at a local shopping center and immediately took action. Upon further inspection, the good Samaritan discovered two more children, a 2-year-old girl, and an infant, in the hot car, which had been turned off and left unlocked.

Authorities were called to the scene, and first responders worked to remove the children from the perilous temperatures, recorded to be 97 degrees. Garza-Amador reportedly returned from shopping as the police were present and allegedly claimed she left the vehicle running. The children, suffering from the heat, were transported to a hospital, where they were later expected to be released the same day.

The responding officers gathered that the mother had left the minors alone for approximately 50 minutes. After her arrest, it was confirmed that Garza-Amador had been released on a $25,000 bond. Meanwhile, the children have reportedly been placed under the care of family members as their mother faces the legal repercussions of her actions.

Texas Department of Family and Protective Services stated that there were no active cases concerning the family prior to the incident, emphasizing the confidentiality of ongoing investigations. The department also mentioned the children were not taken into Child Protective Services custody.

A distressing video, recorded by the woman who first spotted the children, shows the eldest child struggling to breathe and cough, prompting the concern and intervention of bystanders. The woman, who wished to remain anonymous, expressed that she felt divinely directed that day as she had not visited that particular store in a decade. Her hope is that this incident serves as a life lesson for the mother and leads to necessary assistance for the family.

This case came to light just days after another tragedy unfolded in North Carolina, where an 8-year-old girl succumbed to heat after being left in a vehicle. National nonprofit Kids and Car Safety had documented five hot car deaths earlier this year, with the count tragically climbing following additional incidents in Georgia and Houston. The organization, among others, continues to campaign for increased awareness and preventive measures to prevent these avoidable tragedies.