Since 1990, over 900 children have died from heat stroke after being left in cars in the US, with 25 deaths
already recorded this year, according to the database. Just last year, there were 53.
But even with the human propensity to forget, Rowlins says that these deaths are all unnecessary. There
are, and have been for years, products available that notify parents if they forget something with weight in
the back seat and wander away from the vehicle. Those tools just aren’t in every vehicle.
It’s an issue that has attracted the attention of congress, with the first bill aimed at requiring carmakers to
put that technology into cars being introduced by now-presidential candidate Tim Ryan of Ohio in 2016.
The current version of the bill has a Senate-introduced version too, and six sponsors.
Michael Zetts, Ryan’s communications director, says it is ridiculous that the bills have not already passed.
“These kinds of tragedies happen every year, and it’s not just one or two. It’s in the teens. It’s more,” he
says. “All summer long, and even in the spring, you get these stories.”
Rodriguez, for his part, now plans on joining in on the efforts to enact legislation that would ensure what
has happened to him never happens to another family.
At least, that is what his lawyer says his client plans on doing if he can beat the manslaughter and criminally
negligent homicide charges he faces.
Rowlins says that from what she has seen in her 15 years advocating on these issues, about half of the deaths
result in charges, and about a third of the cases see convictions. It is hard to predict what the results will be,
and sometimes seemingly identical cases will yield opposite results.
As Rodriguez starts that fight, he has plenty of support from his family and friends, who showed up en
masse to support him in the Bronx.
But Rowlins says that regardless of the character of the father described by that support network, this
doesn’t change the fact a parent can be charged with manslaughter. Parents don’t leave their children in
cars because they don’t care about legal repercussions.
“They have no idea they’re leaving them behind,” she says. “Fear of going to jail is not going to stop that
from happening.”
Pavon, the friend of the family, says that he is now going to be there for a friend who he says always has his
back.
“Whenever I’m in need, he’s always been there. It just shows you the level of character that he has,” he
says. “I hate to see his family go through this. It’s a tragic accident.”