Child safety group: lock your car doors

WARWICK, R.I. (WPRI) - A child safety group said the recent death of a Warwick boy shows the need for everyone to lock their car doors when they are not inside.

James Lymburner , 3, died Sunday after getting out of his family's Suburban Parkway home and getting into an unlocked car. He was discovered hours later unconscious and was pronounced dead at Hasbro Children's Hospital.

A preliminary autopsy revealed the child died from the heat and police are calling his death an accident.

Janette E. Fennell, founder and president of kidsandcars.org said the tragedy demonstrates how important it is for drivers to lock their cars, even when parked in the garage or driveway, and to keep keys and remote openers out of a child's reach.

She said many people think keeping thieves out is the only reason to lock up, and don't think of the other reasons like keeping an unattended child from getting in.

"Children are naturally curious and want to pretend they are driving or push all those interesting buttons they have been starring at for years from the back seat," Fennell said.

Fennell's website tracks deaths and injuries to children left unattended in or around motor vehicles. She said according to her group's records , Lymburner's death is Rhode Island's first non-traffic motor vehicle fatality.