A CHILLING 911 call revealed new details in the shocking death of a 2-year-old girl while she was inside her mother’s car.
Police have released the 911 call and bodycam footage from an incident where , 2, was crushed by a power seat in her mother’s new 2026 Hyundai Palisade.
The Akron Police Department released new details surrounding the chilling death of 2-year-old Lucia Natalia Ayala Credit: WFSB TV
The 2-year-old girl was killed after she was pinned underneath a power seat in her parent’s car Credit: Schlup-Pucak & Wilson Funeral Home
On March 7, police responded to a 911 call about a child stuck in a car in a Restaurant Depot parking lot in Akron, Ohio, about 40 miles outside of Cleveland.
“Ma’am, we have a child stuck under a chair in the car,” the 911 caller said in audio obtained by CBS Cleveland affiliate WOIO .
Bodycam footage obtained by the station showed the Akron Police Department responding to the scene and entering the car through its trunk.
Officers attempted to remove Ayala from the car as she was pinned underneath an electronic seat that had folded onto her.
Local bystanders assisted and were able to remove Ayala from the car.
CPR was performed on the 2-year-old as she was not breathing when removed from the vehicle.
She was pronounced dead after being transported to the Akron Children’s Hospital.
Ayala’s family said they were experiencing “ unimaginable grief ” following their daughter’s death.
Her cause of death was ruled as mechanical asphyxia, the Summit County Medical Examiner’s Office told the Daily Mail .
It appeared that the rear seats had moved forward and crushed the toddler after a button had been pushed, per the medical examiner.
When police arrived on the scene, Alaya’s father said the seats had not been working properly.
“This was a tragic accident that has deeply impacted a family as well as people in our community,” Akron Police Public Information Officer Lt. Michael Murphy told The U.S. Sun.
“Our thoughts remain with them during this incredibly difficult time. We encourage families in our community to take a moment to review and understand the safety features in their vehicles to help prevent similar tragedies from occurring,” said Murphy.
Responding to Ayala’s death, Hyundai issued a recall of over 60,000 of its 2026 Palisade and 2026 Palisade Hybrid vehicles.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said that the power seats in the second and third rows “may fail to detect a person.”
Due to this defect, the power seats may continue to close even after “contacting a person.”
“Children are advised to not be in the rear seats or near the rear seating area during power-folding operation,” the recall notice stated.
Hyundai also said in its recall that it is working to update the car’s software, but noted that it will not be a “permanent recall repair.”
“It is intended to enhance the system’s response to contact with occupants or objects, introduce additional operating safeguards, and enhance overall system safety,” Hyundai said.
The U.S. Sun has reached out to the Summit County Medical Examiner’s Office.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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