HOUSTON, TX — A heartbreaking incident unfolded Tuesday near Galena Park when a 9-year-old girl died after being left inside a hot car while her mother worked an eight-hour shift.

According to Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez, the tragedy occurred in the gated employee parking lot of USG Corporation, a major manufacturer known for producing Sheetrock and other building materials. The mother reportedly began her shift at 6 a.m. at the company’s facility located in the 1200 block of Mayo Shell Road.

Authorities say the woman brought her daughter to work and left her in the car with a bottle of water. The windows were partially rolled down, and sunshades were placed to provide some relief from the heat. However, despite those measures, the child remained in the vehicle for nearly eight hours in sweltering Texas summer temperatures.

When the mother returned to her car around 2 p.m., she found her daughter unresponsive. Emergency responders were called immediately, but tragically, the child could not be revived.

Sheriff Gonzalez stated, “This is a gut-wrenching and avoidable loss. We urge all caregivers to remember that a vehicle can become a deadly oven in minutes.”

The case remains under investigation, and it is currently unclear if any charges will be filed. Authorities are awaiting autopsy results and reviewing all circumstances surrounding the incident.

As the Houston area continues to experience extreme heat, officials are reminding the public never to leave children or pets unattended in vehicles, even for a short time.

If you see a child alone in a vehicle, call 911 immediately. One call could save a life.