Heat blamed for toddler’s death in Pomona

High temperatures are being blamed for the death of a 3-year-old Pomona girl who was found unconscious in her family’s vehicle Sunday, police said.

Kiara Li was discovered about 4:55 p.m. inside the vehicle on Rancho Jurupa Place after a family outing, according to the Pomona Police Department. Her parents and siblings said they thought she had gotten out of the vehicle the same time they did, police reported.

After she was found inside the sweltering vehicle, she was taken to Pomona Valley Hospital but never regained consciousness, police said.

Police said they believe that Kiara’s death was heat-related but that an autopsy must be performed. Temperatures in the Pomona area hovered in the mid-80s for most of Sunday, according to the National Weather Service.

After Kiara’s death, detectives went to the family’s home to investigate, though foul play is not suspected, police said.

“Our initial findings are consistent with this incident being a tragic accident,” police said in a statement.

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