A California mother has been arrested after disturbing video footage appeared to show her infant falling from a moving SUV and narrowly avoiding being run over in a busy intersection.
Jacqueline Hernandez, 35, 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 statement released Monday, Jan. 26, by the Fullerton Police Department.
Authorities warned that the video circulating online may be disturbing to some viewers.
Police believe the incident occurred on Jan. 20 between 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. at the intersection of North Euclid Street and West Malvern Avenue in Fullerton. The incident was not reported to authorities at the time and only came to light days later, on Jan. 24, when a witness came forward after seeing the footage.
In the video, a black SUV can be seen entering the intersection and completing a turn when the front passenger door suddenly swings open. Moments later, a small child falls out of the vehicle and onto the roadway.
The footage appears to show the child narrowly missing being run over as the SUV continues forward before abruptly stopping. The driver then jumps out, grabs the child, runs back to the vehicle, and drives away.
The danger did not end there. A light-colored car traveling behind the SUV also nearly struck the child, slamming on its brakes at the last second. A yellow vehicle behind that car was forced to swerve to avoid a chain-reaction collision.
According to police, the witness was able to provide identifying information about the SUV, allowing officers to track it to a residence in La Habra. Investigators located the vehicle, the child, and the woman seen in the video.
Police said the child suffered injuries consistent with the fall and was taken to a local hospital for treatment. The baby is expected to make a full recovery.
It remains unclear whether Hernandez has retained legal representation.
Under California law, children under the age of 2 must ride in a rear-facing car seat unless they meet specific height or weight requirements. Children are also required to sit in the back seat until age 8, and rear-facing seats should never be placed in front of an active airbag.
The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Fullerton Police Department’s Sensitive Crimes Unit or submit tips anonymously through Orange County Crime Stoppers.
The dip-shitted mother probably never anchored the baby as she should have. Stupid woman.
Mother of the Year! What an idiot.
What is her political party? Just asking….
Her last name is Hernandez and its California, so she is either an illegal or a democrat, either way a loser.
Probably both.