Baby dies trapped in car seat after dad left car running to go back inside house to get something he'd forgotten and vehicle caught fire, cops say

By JOE HUTCHISON, US SENIOR NEWS REPORTER Published: 15:42, 22 July 2026 | Updated: 15:58, 22 July 2026 A five-month old baby died after being left inside a car by their father before the vehicle caught fire, police said.  Officers and fire crews were called to an address outside Tumwater, Washington, on Tuesday afternoon to reports of a car engulfed in flames with a child still inside.  According to a statement released by Thurston County Sheriff's Office, the father and his three children, aged 12, 2, and 5-months, were preparing to leave the home when the father left the vehicle running and went back inside the home.  The children remained inside the car when it started to fill with smoke, a statement from the sheriff's office said.  The 12-year-old was able to remove themself and the 2-year-old from the vehicle before running inside the home to alert their parents.  When they returned to the vehicle it was fully engulfed in flames, with authorities saying that the father and neighbors tried to pull the baby from the inferno.  Officers and fire crews were called to the 300 block of 93rd Ave SE on Tuesday afternoon, The Thurston County Sheriff's Office are still investigating the blaze and are working with federal authorities  The children remained inside the car when it started to fill with smoke, a statement from the sheriff's office said Several people on the scene suffered burn injuries during the rescue attempt, with the father, children, and neighbors taken to hospital for treatment.  'Despite the efforts of the child's father, nearby residents, and emergency personnel, the infant died in the fire', a statement added.  As of Wednesday morning the cause of the fire has not yet been released, neither has the make and model of the vehicle. The sheriff's office said in a statement that they were working with local fire investigators and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).  Sheriff Sanders posted to his social media saying: 'Absolutely sick to my stomach today after seeing this scene.  'I am deeply sorry to the family and our first responders who had to experience this. 'Thank you to our Chaplains for always showing up alongside us to support the families on the hard calls. RIP little one.'