Eddie Espinoza, 62, faces child abuse charges after leaving his 7-year-old granddaughter in a hot car at a Walmart in Thornton, Colorado, on July 6.
Police say the girl was locked inside the vehicle for at least 20 minutes while Espinoza shopped inside the store at 850 E. 88th Avenue. With outside temperatures around 90 degrees, firefighters estimated the interior reached over 150 degrees.
The child used a mallet to smash the front passenger window and escape. Bystanders assisted her until first responders arrived. She suffered minor injuries from the broken glass and received treatment at the scene.
Espinoza admitted to leaving the girl in the car during the shopping trip and was taken into custody. The Thornton Police Department released photos of the damaged vehicle.
The National Safety Commission reports at least 12 pediatric vehicular heatstroke deaths in the U.S. so far this year, with an average of 37 such fatalities annually among children under 15.