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UPDATE: Autistic man left in hot van

By Mike Essian, WINK News

COLLIER COUNTY, Fla. - A 26-year-old severely autistic man gets left in a hot van for nearly 90 minutes at a Collier County day camp.

After an investigation, the county says the program supervisor is to blame. But now, the supervisor is blaming the county.

She says she never received training from the county relating to her position working with special needs campers.

Despite that, county officials say she was the acting program supervisor.

"Everybody makes mistakes. We don't think this was a deliberate mistake. Everybody makes mistakes," Camden Smith, spokesperson for Collier County Parks and Rec, said.

According to the report, the supervisor unloaded the van at an East Naples bowling alley, but instead of doing a head count as required by protocol, she parked the van.

The report says at least one person reminded her the man in the can and she replied, "I won't, I wont."

Once inside, the report says she still failed to do a head count, instead, ordering French fries from the restaurant.

"One person, and only one person was responsible for driving the car and getting out of the vehicle after parking it and leaving, unfortunately, this man in there," Smith said.

But in that same report, the supervisor says the program was understaffed that day and she was not fully trained by the county.

"I think the claim in the report that she didn't receive training are a real concern because we know that not to be the case. We saw her at summer camp training and not only that, we hired her for her specialized training," Smith said.

But Wednesday, county officials could not produce documents verifying her training.

Right now, they're primarily focused on making sure something like this doesn't happen again.

"Protocol has to be followed, no exceptions," Smith said.

The supervisor is on paid leave from her position and the county is expected to take disciplinary action this week.

So far the victim's family has not spoken with us about the incident. In an email Wednesday, the victim's mother says she's waiting for the county to make a decision.

Wednesday, Aug 13 at 5:08 PM Sunflower wrote ...

I would think maybe even if the 26-year old man's parents could press charges against that women and the parks,rec's.The caregiver put that man in danger of losing his life in the hot,hot car.She should pay for her mistake.

Friday, Aug 8 at 8:03 PM Sandi wrote ...

I coudln't agree more with Kathy. It doesn't take training to know that you should double check. This is a stupid blame game for an inexusable mistake. Yes, mistakes happen but if any one of these people trying to use that line had the same thing happen to their child....they would be breaking out the big guns. People die from these sort of mistakes and that isn't something you can just excuse away. Let me lock that worker in a car for 90 minutes and tell her...it was just a mistake.

Thursday, Aug 7 at 11:18 AM MARY wrote ...

PARENTS WERE THERE THE DAY OF THE INTERVIEW AND WERE TOLD THAT THEIR TESTAMONY WAS NOT NEEDED. tHE MOTHER OF THE CHILD WHEN IN AND TOLD THEM THAT HER SON WOULD NOT BE COMMING BACK TO CAMP IF THIS COUNCELOR WASN'T THIER. tHE COUNTY SAID HE WAS BACK. aSK THE COUNTY ABOUT THE 8 CAMPERS WHO DIDN'T RETURN DUE TO THE COUNCOLOR NOT BEING THIERE. THEY ARE COVERING SOMETHING. WHY

Thursday, Aug 7 at 11:14 AM mary wrote ...

It is a shame the county is putting this person in this position. This councelor was at the trainning this year but she was instructed to sit in one room and manipulate the slide show. The ENTIRE staff at Parks & Rec know this, so why can't they just come out and say it This is a person who ALL of the parents from th program know and trust. Why did the county refues to speak with the parents who called off work to go on that f1eild trip Parents were present the day the interviews were done

Thursday, Aug 7 at 10:12 AM Kathy wrote ...

Her excuse she wasn't trained?! What about common sense! I drove challenged teenagers to different locations and it doesn't take training to realize someone didn't get out of the car! She needs to be fired! She is not a responsible adult by any means and should not be in charge of any adults!! It is suprising the adult left in the car did not pass out. This is a very disturbing story.

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