FULLERTON, CA - A mom has been arrested after video footage showed her infant flying out the passenger door of a moving vehicle and narrowly avoding being run over by her SUV.
The mother, 35-year-old Jacqueline Hernandez, of La Habra, was arrested on suspicion of felony child abuse after her 19-month-old child "fell from the passenger side of a moving vehicle," according to a press release from the Fullerton Police Department (FPD).
Police believe the incident, which happened at the intersection of N. Euclid St. and W. Malvern Ave, occurred on January 20, between 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. local time. Police did not receive reports on the incident until a witness came forward on January 24 and reported seeing what happened.
In the video, a black SUV can be seen entering the intersection, and after completing a turn, the front passenger door opens, and a small child falls to the ground on the roadway.
The video shows the child nearly being run over before the "driver abruptly stops, jumps out of the vehicle, picks the child up and runs back to the driver's seat and drives away."
In addition to being almost run over by the car they were in, a light colored car driving behind the SUV almost hit the child after the mother narrowly missed. The driver of the second car slammed on the brakes while a yellow car behind it swerved to not hit the other cars, PEOPLE reported.
"The witness was able to provide identifying information related to the vehicle involved. Officers conducted a follow-up investigation, which led them to a residence in the City of La Habra," police said. "Officers located the vehicle, the child, and the female involved in the incident seen in the video."
The baby reportedly sustained injuries consistent with the fall and was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment. The baby is expected to make a full recovery, thankfully.
Under California law, children under two years of age "shall ride in a rear-facing car seat" unless the child is 40 pounds or more, or is 40 or more inches tall. "The child shall be secured in a manner that complies with the height and weight limits specified by the manufacturer of the car seat," according to the California Highway Patrol website.
Rear-facing car seats should also never be placed in front of an active air bag. Children must also be seated in the back seat of a car until age eight. The incident remains an ongoing investigation. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact FPD's Sensitive Crimes Unit, Detective H. Rios at 714-738-6782.
The mother, 35-year-old Jacqueline Hernandez, of La Habra, was arrested on suspicion of felony child abuse after her 19-month-old child "fell from the passenger side of a moving vehicle," according to a press release from the Fullerton Police Department (FPD).
Police believe the incident, which happened at the intersection of N. Euclid St. and W. Malvern Ave, occurred on January 20, between 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. local time. Police did not receive reports on the incident until a witness came forward on January 24 and reported seeing what happened.
In the video, a black SUV can be seen entering the intersection, and after completing a turn, the front passenger door opens, and a small child falls to the ground on the roadway.
The video shows the child nearly being run over before the "driver abruptly stops, jumps out of the vehicle, picks the child up and runs back to the driver's seat and drives away."
In addition to being almost run over by the car they were in, a light colored car driving behind the SUV almost hit the child after the mother narrowly missed. The driver of the second car slammed on the brakes while a yellow car behind it swerved to not hit the other cars, PEOPLE reported.
"The witness was able to provide identifying information related to the vehicle involved. Officers conducted a follow-up investigation, which led them to a residence in the City of La Habra," police said. "Officers located the vehicle, the child, and the female involved in the incident seen in the video."
The baby reportedly sustained injuries consistent with the fall and was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment. The baby is expected to make a full recovery, thankfully.
Under California law, children under two years of age "shall ride in a rear-facing car seat" unless the child is 40 pounds or more, or is 40 or more inches tall. "The child shall be secured in a manner that complies with the height and weight limits specified by the manufacturer of the car seat," according to the California Highway Patrol website.
Rear-facing car seats should also never be placed in front of an active air bag. Children must also be seated in the back seat of a car until age eight. The incident remains an ongoing investigation. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact FPD's Sensitive Crimes Unit, Detective H. Rios at 714-738-6782.
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