Mother of toddler who died in hot car in Smithtown receiving community’s support

Family and friends are stepping up in support of the mother of a 14-month-old girl who died in Smithtown on Monday after being left in a hot vehicle for about eight hours.

Police reported that the child Chyasia’s 54-year-old grandmother forgot to drop her off at daycare, leaving the toddler in a car seat in the back while the woman went to work. The car was parked at a Long Island Rail Road station.

Derrick Rountree of Bellport, a friend of Chyasia’s mother, established a GoFundMe on behalf of the grieving woman, according to the GoFundMe page created on Tuesday.

“I am asking and reaching out to family and friends during this time to help her and the family out in any way that could make this tragedy a little easier,” Rountree posted. “Whatever you do big or small in any way possible will be greatly appreciated. And we also ask that you keep US ALL IN YOUR PRAYERS as we all try to process this profound loss.”

The GoFundMe page emphasized that the funds raised will go directly toward helping the toddler’s mother. More than 50 donors have contributed $3,160 as of 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday.

You can click here to contribute.

Police said that about eight hours after Chyasia was left behind in the vehicle, about 4:20 p.m., the child was to be picked up from daycare, located on Redwood Lane in Smithtown. At that time, the grandmother realized she had left the child in her car, police said.

The toddler was taken to St. Catherine of Siena Medical Center in Smithtown, where she was pronounced dead.

_{Photos from GoFundMe}