Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Firefighter Smashes Window To Save 'Screaming' And 'Sweaty' Child From Hot Car
By
Jen Chung
Published Aug 9, 2019
Modified Aug 9, 2019
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
FDNY
By
Jen Chung
Published Aug 9, 2019
Modified Aug 9, 2019
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
A firefighter broke into a car parked at a Queens shopping plaza yesterday because a four-year-old boy was distressed due to the heat inside the vehicle, the FDNY said. The boy was rescued and taken to a hospital in stable condition.
Firefighter Matthew Clinton, 29, was taking a break when he noticed the boy inside the vehicle parked on 20th Avenue near 132nd Street in College Point on Thursday afternoon.
"The kid was screaming that it was hot. You could see sweat on his face,"Clinton said. "I told him that I'm a Firefighter. Dispatch was called, and I asked someone in the crowd to get me something to break the window with. I broke the driver's side window and unlocked the doors. We got the kid out, and within a couple minutes NYPD showed up."
The boy's father, Geremie Ram, 42, showed up later. Clinton told the Post that the father did "look very concerned." Ram, who claimed he left the boy in the car for 15 minutes while making returns at Target, was charged with reckless endangerment and acting in a manner dangerous to a child, as well as criminal possession of a controlled substance for Xanax.
The FDNY said, "FDNY urges New Yorkers to NEVER leave children alone in a car on a warm day, even if you think the temperature outside isn’t hot enough to cause harm. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, the inside temperature of a car - regardless of whether the windows are closed or partially open - can rise as much as 40 degrees within one hour, even if the exterior temperature is only in the low 70s. The majority of the temperature rise occurs within the first 15-30 minutes, and no amount of shade is enough to protect children from these dangers. To help you remember that children are in the backseat of your car, place a much-needed item, like a cell phone or your shoe, with them in the backseat. If you see a child alone in a car on a hot day, call 911. See more #FDNYSmart info at fdnysmart.org "
Last month, one-year-old twin siblings died after their father left them in the car for eight hours while he went to work in the Bronx.
Tagged
child in hot car
hot car
queens
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
NY Dems push bill in Congress to restore healthcare coverage, putting GOP on the spot
The proposal emerges just ahead of the midterm elections and aims to undo cuts forced by Trump and Republicans.
By
Caroline Lewis
Published Oct 1, 2026 at 10:41 a.m. ET
Lost SNAP benefits? NYC says you can reapply for 3 more months of aid
SNAP recipients who were kicked off for not meeting new work rules can get three more months of benefits.
By
Karen Yi
News
Lost SNAP benefits? NYC says you can reapply for 3 more months of aid
SNAP recipients who were kicked off for not meeting new work rules can get three more months of benefits.
By
Karen Yi
MTA delays slow Thursday morning's rush hour to a crawl
By
David Giambusso
Early Addition: Is Canal Street finally getting wider sidewalks?
By
James Ramsay
A man who died on Rikers treated as ‘less than a human’ as family wages $25 million lawsuit
By
Brittany Kriegstein
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .