Child Left In Hot Car: Manteca Family Uses Tragedy To Educate Families

MANTECA (CBS13) – Parents in Manteca are still in agony after they accidentally left their daughter in their hot car, and they want their story to be a warning to others.

The daughter survived, but now all their lives have changed forever.

"Most parents think it will never happen to them," said Justin Marson.

Marson's 4-year-old, SaraCorinne, is unable to walk and talk.

"We're reminded of the loss each and every day of the things she is not able to do now that she would be able to do," said Marson.

In 2008, the family had just returned home from a funeral, and in the process of getting out of the car, SaraCorinne was left in the hot vehicle for three hours. She was only 9 months old.

"It's a simple miscommunication. It's not anything that was intentional," said Marson.

When they got her out, her core temperature was 107 degrees. Doctors didn't think she'd make it. Investigators were called out and neighbors came to the couple's defense.

"They're very responsible parents," said one neighbor.

Detectives charged SaraCorinne's mother with child abuse, but those charges were later dropped.

"You know you don't always communicate clearly with your spouse and it just happened," said Marson.

SaraCorinne's recovery has been long.

She has some residual brain damage and can't do things most 4-year-olds can do. But instead of focusing on the negative, the Marsons are choosing to use this experience to educate.

The family has brought their message to Manteca Ford, using thermometers to show people just how hot it can get in a closed car. The results have been positive.

"Even in the shade it's still 107 degrees inside the vehicle," said Marson.

He hopes his biggest life lesson will serve as a lesson to others so no other child ever suffers the same way SaraCorinne has.

"It never enters your mind. You never set out thinking, 'Hey, I'm going to forget my child' or 'I'm going to somehow leave my child in the vehicle,' but it happens a lot," said Marson.

The family is hoping to send SaraCorinne to a treatment center in Toronto.

Manteca Ford is donating $200 from every car it sells for the next week to help pay for the treatment.