5-year-old locked in car for 9 hours

HUNTING PARK - June 29, 2008 (WPVI) -- Police say a 5-year-old girl was locked inside a car in Philadelphia for hours overnight.

Police say the victim's aunt, her boyfriend, and 4 children pulled up to a house on the 4200 block of Derrien. It was 1 a.m. Sunday.

Everyone went inside and to bed, except for the 5-year-old victim. She remained in the minivan for 9 hours as the temperature and humidity began to rise.

Police got a call around 10:00 a.m. Sunday about reports of a girl screaming.

Lt. Stephen Biello of the Philadelphia Police Dept. tells us, "The girl appeared to be incoherent and not responding well. They eventually made contact with the child. She was warm to touch."

The girl was rushed to Temple Children's Hospital. She has since been released.

The girl is from Maryland and was visiting relatives in Philadelphia. Police suspect she was accidentally left in the car and because she was unfamiliar with the area she was likely scared and didn't attempt to get out.

"At this point we're still trying to get that information and clear it up," said Biello.

The aunt and her boyfriend, whose names have not been released, remain in custody and face possible child endangerment and assault charges.

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local/state, chad pradelli

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