Boy dies after drinking cleaner

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MERCED, Calif., Feb. 5 (UPI) -- A 2-year-old boy in Merced, Calif., died after accidentally drinking a caustic cleaner, authorities said.

Jack Shearer was playing at a family friend's automotive services shop Friday, became thirsty. His grandmother offered him a bottle she found on the floorboard of her husband's truck, thinking it contained water, Merced County Sheriff's Department spokesman Tom MacKenzie said.

The bottle contained a cleaning solution used on aluminum wheels, MacKenzie said.

The grandfather called 911, then drove the boy to a local hospital. He was later transferred to Children's Hospital in Madera and pronounced dead, the Merced Sun-Star reported.

Detectives said they consider the death an accident, and no charges had been filed.

The grandparents' names were not reported.