Kearney woman arrested for leaving toddler unattended in car

MERRICK COUNTY, Nebraska (KOLN) – A Kearney woman was arrested after allegedly leaving her toddler unattended in a hot car.

On Saturday, a Merrick County Deputy was dispatched to the Merrick County Fairgrounds to investigate the case of an infant left unattended in a vehicle at 1:30 p.m. Upon arrival, it was discovered that a three-month-old infant had been left for an extended period of time in a pickup truck with the engine turned off and the windows partially open.

According to the sheriff's office, the baby was discovered after a citizen heard the baby crying and began systematically searching the surrounding cars. The citizen was also assisted by other citizens on site in recovering and caring for the baby.

The mother, 40-year-old Cara Dugan of Kearney, was found riding a horse inside a building. She was arrested and taken to the Merrick County Jail.

Dugan was put in prison for child abuse.

The outside temperature was 90 to 91 degrees Fahrenheit. The child was taken by police to a local hospital for evaluation. There, he was examined and it was determined that he had not sustained any injuries in the incident. The child was placed in the care of the Nebraska Department of Health.

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