A U.S. Army veteran from Texas and his pet dog died from possible heat exhaustion after an apparent electronic malfunction locked them both inside the man's sports car, reported NBC News.
Port Arthur police authorities said 72-year-old James Rogers and his Shih Tzu, Baby Girl Leia, were found dead inside his Chevrolet Corvette Monday afternoon. The cause of death is apparent heat exhaustion, as temperatures surged up to 90 degrees Fahrenheit in the area.
Rogers recently purchased the 2007 Corvette, and did not know how to manually operate the horn or unlock the doors of the vehicle. Authorities believe that a loose cable caused an electronic malfunction in the sports car, trapping the man and his dog inside, according to ABC News.
On Monday, Rogers stopped at a restaurant for coffee, and then went out to the car to check on his pet. He forgot his cellphone in the restaurant and was unable to call for help after he was locked inside his car. The pair was later discovered in the parking lot by one of the customers of the restaurant, said Maj. Raymond Clark, reported the Examiner.
Rogers is survived by two daughters, one son and five grandchildren, according to his obituary.
