Parents Arrested for Leaving Children in Hot Car
Michael Krueger, 53, and Tiffany Krueger, 40, were arrested on July 8, 2026, in Salina, Kansas, after allegedly leaving six children inside a car with temperatures reaching 36°C (97°F). The children, including two 7-month-old infants, were left unattended for 20 to 30 minutes while the parents ate at a Wingstop restaurant.
Police responded around 2 p.m. local time to a report of children left in a vehicle with only one window down and no air conditioning. The children ranged in age from 7 months to 13 years old. Emergency responders examined the children, who were then taken into protective custody.
Health Risks and Charges
Aaron Melby of the Salina Police Department said the children appeared to have “health concerns” when found. The parents were booked into the Saline County Jail on counts of aggravated endangerment.
Chad Scoville of the Salina Fire Department warned: “A child’s body temperature rises three to five times faster than an adult’s. They just do not have the same regulating capabilities that an adult does.” He added that car interiors can reach dangerous temperatures in minutes.
National Statistics on Hot Car Deaths
The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that about 37 children die each year from heatstroke after being left or trapped in a car. “The majority of hot car deaths — 52% — happen because someone forgets a child in a car,” the agency states. In 47% of cases where a child was forgotten, the caregiver intended to drop the child off at daycare or preschool. More than half of these deaths occur in children aged two years or younger.
Scoville emphasized: “We simply do not want to leave unattended children or pets in unattended vehicles. Period.” The administration advises parents to always check the back seat before locking doors.
