Authorities in Plantation, Florida, are investigating the death of a 23-month-old boy who was found unresponsive inside a parked SUV outside A World of Discovery Academy on Monday.

Police said the child’s father had believed he had already dropped his son off at the daycare that morning, only to discover hours later that the boy had remained inside the vehicle.

The Plantation Police Department and Plantation Fire Department responded to a call about the unresponsive toddler at around 5:39 p.m.

When emergency crews arrived, firefighters pronounced the child dead at the scene, according to authorities.

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Leslie Novoa, the owner of A World of Discovery Academy, told WSVN-TV that she called 911 alongside the boy’s father after they discovered the child in the back seat of the family SUV.

“It is hard for the parents, hard for us,” Novoa told the station. “This is sad to see this family – a wonderful family – to go through so much pain.”

Novoa said the father arrived at the daycare in the afternoon to pick up his son before realizing the child had never been brought inside that morning.

“Unfortunately, the dad arrived to pick up his child, and when he arrived to the parking lot, he realized he forgot the child,” she said. “He never dropped off the child at the school.”

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Novoa explained that she has known the family for six years and described them as loving parents whose three children had been enrolled at the daycare.

“Like I said before, they’re a very loving family, and unfortunately, this happened,” Novoa said.

In a statement following the incident, the daycare expressed condolences to the family and said it was focused on providing emotional support to those affected.

“Our primary responsibility is the safety and well-being of our students and their families,” the statement read. “We communicated with our school community as soon as possible, and we remain in contact with our families to provide support during this incredibly difficult time.”

According to the statement, the student and their family are “beloved members of our community,” and the daycare’s focus remains on supporting those grieving the loss.

National data from Kids and Car Safety, formerly KidsAndCars.org, shows that about 40 children die each year in the United States in hot car incidents. Roughly half of these deaths occur when a parent or caregiver unintentionally leaves a child inside a vehicle, the organization reports.

Plantation police said the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the toddler’s death is ongoing.