Woman victim of Columbus’ first heat-related death of summer
A 54-year-old Columbus woman who was stricken by the heat Tuesday is the city’s first heat-related death of the summer, an official with the Muscogee County Coroner’s Office said on Wednesday.
Security staff found Barbara Sternberg inside her hot car in the parking lot at Midtown Medical Center, the old Doctors Hospital parking lot, Chief Deputy Coroner Freeman Worley said. She was pronounced dead at the scene at 7:40 p.m.
No autopsy is planned in the death since evidence points to the heat. Worley said the outside temperature was 90 degrees and inside the car was even hotter because the windows were closed and no air was circulating.
Worley said it appears that Sternberg was overcome by heat after entering the vehicle. The vehicle wasn’t running and keys were in her pocket.
With high temperatures soaring in the 90s during the day, Worley said it only takes a few minutes for someone to get overcome by heat.
“Everybody needs to be careful,” he said.
Ben Wright: 706-571-8576, @bfwright87
This story was originally published July 27, 2016 at 2:02 PM with the headline "Woman victim of Columbus’ first heat-related death of summer."