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SPRINGFIELD, Illinois - On a pleasant spring day in May 1998, Missouri resident Michele Struttmann watched boats with her son, Harrison, on a bench at a local park. In a parking lot located behind them, a careless couple left two toddlers in a running van while they talked with relatives - oblivious to the dangerous situation they had created. Minutes later, the playing toddlers put the high-idling van in ‘drive', jumped a curb and rapidly sped toward Struttmann and her son. After paramedics pulled the severely injured mother from under the van's wreckage, she spent hours on an operating table. She later learned that two-year-old Harrison had died that night.

This tragic story, along with hundreds of other similar stories, yesterday prompted the Illinois Senate to approve Senate Bill 28, a measure that increases the penalties for leaving children unattended in a vehicle. The bill's sponsor, Senator John Cullerton (D-Chicago), said he introduced the initiative to encourage people to think before they carelessly leave a youngster in a vehicle.

"No legal penalty can replace the life of a child," Cullerton said. "But, I hope that this measure will help send a message to people everywhere that leaving a child in a car is not only irresponsible, but extremely dangerous."

Cullerton's bill addresses the state's child endangerment statute, stating that if a person leaves a child in a vehicle - unattended and out of sight - they have engaged in endangering that child. Those who violate the law can be charged with a Class A Misdemeanor, which carries penalties up to a year in jail and fines up to $2,000. If someone is injured or killed as a result of leaving the child alone, penalties could be raised to a Class 3 Felony, which could mean 3 to 5 years in prison and up to $10,000 in fines.

Since the 1998 accident, Struttmann organized KIDS 'N CARS, a nationwide non-profit organization that promotes public awareness and legislative action to eliminate tragedies like hers. She said Cullerton's bill shows that her son's death was not just another tragic story.

"Illinois has taken a great step forwards increasing the awareness of the dangers associated with leaving unsupervised children in vehicles," Struttmann said. "I'm looking forward to seeing this bill through the House of Representatives and onto the law books. " Carol Spizzirri, President/ Founder, Save A Life Foundation said  "Far too often our EMS professionals arrive to a scene of a needless emergency, and commend Senator Cullerton for taking this action to safe guard our children.  We are now monitoring that Governor George Ryan signs it into law."

Senate Bill 28 passed both House and Senate and now moves to Governor Ryan for his signature.