Toddler strangled by car window in Hidalgo County

DONNA -- A 2-year-old accidentally suffocated herself after sticking her head out of a car window and then rolling the window up, according to the Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office.

"This is going to be a tough one," said Sheriff Lupe Treviño. "It's going to be a real, real tough one."

The toddler's grandfather has had custody of her and her 8-month-old brother since May, after Child Protective Services declared the parents were abusing the children, Treviño said.

The grandfather was selling tamales at a home between Donna and Alamo when he left the siblings in the Ford F-150 with the air conditioner running. The 8-month-old was restrained in a child seat and the toddler was left sleeping, unrestrained, on the seat of the truck, Treviño said.

The grandfather was at the home for about 15 minutes and would poke his head out of the door to check on the children frequently. The medical examiner verbally told the Sheriff's Office that it would only take a toddler about 30 seconds to suffocate.

The Sheriff's Office is waiting on the written autopsy report, expected in the next week, before deciding whether to forward the case to the Hidalgo County District Attorney for review or seeking a warrant for his arrest.

"Obviously, there is no intent," Treviño said, adding that the grandfather could be found to have acted negligently.

Treviño did not have names immediately available and said he would provide them shortly.