Mother Finds Child with Hypothermia, Says She Was Left Alone in KinderCare Bus 3 Hours

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‘She could have died’: 5-year-old girl left alone for hours on KinderCare bus in Arlington Heights suffered hypothermia and was nearly unconscious (ABC 7 Chicago). YouTube Tips ⓘ

KinderCare bus parked at KinderCare Learning Center, 1003 South Arlington Heights Road in Arlington Heights (CARDINAL NEWS)
KinderCare bus parked at KinderCare Learning Center, 1003 South Arlington Heights Road in Arlington Heights (CARDINAL NEWS)

Police, firefighters, and paramedics responded about 5:55 p.m. Tuesday, January 14, 2025 to a report that a 5 year-old child was left on a bus at Kindercare, 1003 South Arlington Heights Road in Arlington Heights.

The child was reported to be suffering from cold exposure, and was transferred inside the KinderCare business location. Police also responded due to a report of a verbal altercation between the KinderCare staff and the parents of the child. No arrests were reported.

ABC 7 Chicago investigated the details of the emergency call and discovered that the child’s parents — Caitlynn Gonzalez and Wamui Mwiya — accused KinderCare of losing track of their daughter in below-freezing weather.

“She could have died. She could have died today. She could be dead.”

— Wamui Mwiya, father of child

“I asked where Dior was, and they said that she was never dropped off at school or at KinderCare in the morning.”

— Caitlynn Gonzalez, mother of child

Gonzalez said she came to pick up Dior at the KinderCare at the southeast corner of Arlington Heights Road and Central Road in Arlington Heights on Tuesday, but there was no record by staff that her daughter was picked up from school. She said she pleaded for the staff to call the police, and the staff refused, so she began searching for Dior on her own.

Kindercare bus parked at KinderCare Learning Center, 1003 South Arlington Heights Road in Arlington Heights (CARDINAL NEWS)
Kindercare bus parked at KinderCare Learning Center, 1003 South Arlington Heights Road in Arlington Heights (CARDINAL NEWS).

“I ran outside, and I said, just like … what came to me … she had to be on the bus because there was no other explanation.”

— Caitlynn Gonzalez

Caitlynn Gonzalez said Dior fell asleep on the bus, and was alone for almost 3 hours in below freezing temperatures.

“Her body was limp. I had to carry her almost unconscious body out of the bus.”

— Caitlynn Gonzalez

 NWS CHGO O’HARE INT’L … 

3:51 PM AIR TEMP 16°F – WIND CHILL 5°F – WIND NW 10 MPH

4:51 PM AIR TEMP 14°F – WIND CHILL 2°F – WIND NW 10 MPH

5:51 PM AIR TEMP 13.9°F – WIND CHILL 3°F – WIND NW 8 MPH

Dior was transported by Arlington Heights Fire Department paramedics to Endeavor Health Northwest Community Hospital about one mile away. She was diagnosed with hypothermia, and was treated and discharged from the hospital.

“If this were the parents that left the child in the car … and this happened … I would think that they would be in jail … I mean, I want … somebody needs to be held responsible for this.”

— Caitlynn Gonzalez

In a statement to ABC 7 Chicago, KinderCare admitted their bus safety protocols were not followed, and as a result, a staff member involved and the KinderCare center director are on administrative leave.

Both parents told ABC 7 Chicago they will never bring Dior to KinderCare again, nor any other daycare facilities. They plan to continue to provide child care while trying to work around their full-time jobs.

“Do your best to home school your kids, and be there more, because nobody’s going to watch them like you.”

— Wamui Mwiya, father of child

The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) confirmed with ABC 7 Chicago that they are investigating this incident.

KinderCare Learning Center, 1003 South Arlington Heights Road in Arlington Heights (CARDINAL NEWS)
KinderCare Learning Center, 1003 South Arlington Heights Road in Arlington Heights (CARDINAL NEWS).
KinderCare Learning Center, 1003 South Arlington Heights Road in Arlington Heights (CARDINAL NEWS)
KinderCare Learning Center, 1003 South Arlington Heights Road in Arlington Heights (CARDINAL NEWS).

 SOURCE NEWS … 

ABC 7 Chicago | 5-year-old girl left alone on KinderCare bus in Arlington Heights: ‘She could have died’

 RELATED NEWS … 

ABC 7 Chicago | Richton Park mother demands answers after preschooler left on school bus for hours: EXCLUSIVE

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