Driver arrested in death of 1-year-old left inside hot van in Omaha, police say

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Omaha Police have made an arrest in the death of a 1-year-old who was left in a hot van on Monday.

The van driver, 62-year-old Ryan Williams, was arrested on suspicion of child abuse by neglect resulting in death.

Around 3 p.m., first responders were called to Kidz of the Future Childcare near 50th and Leavenworth streets on a report of an unresponsive child in a van, police said.

The child was taken to the Nebraska Medical Center, where they were later pronounced dead.

An investigation is ongoing.

As of 7 p.m. Monday, the heat index in Omaha was 114 degrees.

Much of Nebraska remains under an excessive heat warning.

In an email, the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services said the child care center has been temporarily shut down.

The department also released a statement on the investigation:

The protection and well-being of children is of the highest priority by the Department of Health and Human Services and we are working with law enforcement as they investigate this tragic death. In addition, an emergency order has been put in place temporarily closing the facility until further investigations can take place.