Arkansas Mom Sues After Son, 5, Dies In Hot Day Care Van

WEST MEMPHIS, AR — An Arkansas mother whose her 5-year-old son died inside a day care van after being left in the hot vehicle for nearly nine hours is suing the facility.

Ascent Children's Health Services failed to provide adequate care for the boy, Ashley Smith alleged in the civil lawsuit filed Thursday. The day care was "indifferent in the recruitment, hiring, training, supervision, discipline of employees," and showed a "callous disregard," the suit said.

Smith wants the day care shuttered.

Ascent's 15-passenger van picked up Christopher Gardner Jr. on the morning of June 12, police in West Memphis said. He was found dead around 3:30 p.m. The temperature inside the van reached 141 degrees, police said.

Investigators determined four workers were responsible for the death. They face felony manslaughter charges.

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