SAPD: Child safe after she was towed in running car, tow company says protocols followed

SAN ANTONIO (KTSA News) — The San Antonio Police Department is investigating after a 5-year-old child was towed while in a running car on Monday.

Police say the mother called in just before 11 a.m. saying her daughter was being towed. She told police she had stopped at an apartment complex in the 7200 block of Blanco Road and left the engine running while she tried to contact a neighbor at one of the units. Shortly after, she says a tow truck came up and towed the car.

Investigators say the mother, nine months pregnant, tried to follow the tow truck with the help of a witness. After a medical emergency, police say she could not continue the chase.

SAPD eventually contacted the tow company, and the child was returned .

The driver is being investigated for child endangerment.

Trinity Towing issued the following statement:

Today, around 11:30 a.m., we were dispatched to tow a vehicle parked in a fire lane. The car was locked, with the ignition off, and there were no signs of anyone inside or around the vehicle. We later learned a little girl was asleep on the floorboard when we first towed the vehicle and was not visible to the driver. 

As the tow truck arrived at our storage yard just a few minutes later, we were informed that a child had been left in the car. Our driver managed to get the little girl to unlock the door. 

While our driver followed all necessary protocols, the situation could have been much more serious. We are relieved that the little girl is safe and unharmed this evening.

— Trinity Towing