MERRICK COUNTY, Nebraska (WKRC) – A mother was arrested after allegedly leaving her three-month-old baby in an overheated truck while she went horseback riding.

According to a statement from the Merrick County Sheriff’s Office, officers responded to the Merrick County Fairgrounds in Nebraska to investigate reports of a toddler left in an unattended pickup truck.

When officers arrived at the scene, they found a three-month-old baby in a pickup truck. “The engine was off and the windows were only partially open,” and they concluded that the child had been left in the vehicle “for a considerable period of time.”

The sheriff’s office said someone at the fairgrounds heard the infant crying and began searching nearby vehicles until they eventually found the baby. Police said the unidentified person was also helped by others at the fairgrounds.

According to authorities, officers found 40-year-old Cara Dugan riding a horse inside a building. After identifying her as the mother’s child, Dugan was arrested and taken to the Merrick County Jail while officers took her child to the hospital for a wellness check.

According to police, medical personnel determined that the child suffered no injuries in the incident.

At the time of the incident, Merrick County Sheriff’s Office officials noted that outside temperatures were 90-91 degrees Fahrenheit.

Authorities confirmed that the child has now been placed in the custody of the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services.

Dugan was charged with child abuse, a Class 3A felony.

Captain Bauer of the Merrick County Sheriff’s Office thanked the community members who helped, saying that “a tragedy was most likely prevented thanks to their response and actions.”