Police: Man Left Kids in Hot Car at Oneonta Walmart

A Chenango County man faces felony charges after he allegedly left two young children in a car at a Walmart store when the outside temperature was nearly 100 degrees.

Authorities say 39-year-old Kurtis Carpel of Mount Upton was charged with two counts of reckless endangerment in connection with the incident at the store on Route 23 in the town of Oneonta.

According to New York State Police, a trooper was sent to the store around 3 p.m. on June 19 after someone reported two screaming kids were inside a locked vehicle.in the parking lot. The car's windows were rolled up when the outdoor temperature was reported to be 99.

When the trooper arrive, the children were exhibiting signs of distress from the heat. The vehicle was running with "barely any air conditioning."

People who had spotted the situation gave the children water and put cool towels on them before the trooper got to the scene.

All three children were taken to A.O. Fox Hospital in Oneonta to be evaluated. State police did not indicate whether they required medical treatment.

Carpel was arraigned at Otsego County Jail. A police news release did not say whether he was released after processing.

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Contact WNBF News reporter Bob Joseph: bob@wnbf.com. For breaking news and updates on developing stories, follow @BinghamtonNow on Twitter.