Crazy news has come out of Longmont, CO. Tragic stories of children being left in sweltering cars seem to be way too common nowadays. This story, though, takes insanity to another level.
Shannon Dominguez and her boyfriend Alan Mason sighted a young boy in a car, directly in the path of the sun, and called 911. The windows were up and this alert couple obviously feared for the child’s life and health. They did what I would hope any one would do if they saw this during a hot summer day. However, the couple was quickly “punished” for doing the right thing.
The child’s mother, 27 year-old Kristina Riddell, returned to the car near a Dollar Tree in Longmont and had apparently heard that this couple had called the police. Allegedly, Riddell became upset and punched Mason in the face and subsequently hit the couple with her car. Mason suffered both internal and external bleeding and Dominguez may never walk again after?getting her leg crushed.
Here’s video coverage, courtesy of local Fox affiliate KDVR:
There are so many things wrong with this story. First, I remain baffled at how any parent can leave their child in a hot car with the windows up. How can someone be so incredibly oblivious? To ease our minds, it might be better to assume these stories are unfortunate accidents, but the incidence of malicious intent being involved really breaks your heart. The actions of Ms. Riddell seem to point to some type of intentional wrongdoing. If I genuinely forgot my child in my car by accident, I would be more than thrilled to have a couple call the police and exhibit care towards a child for whom they do not even know. To be so violent towards someone who was merely looking out for your child’s safety is crazy, psychotic, and downright deplorable. Sure, Riddell might have been terrified at what would happen to HER if the police arrived. Yet what would have happened if her child remained suffering in that hot car should have frightened her more.
Riddell faces multiple charges now including hit-and-run and child abuse.
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Edited/Published by JA
