Woman Faces Charges After Toddler Falls from Moving SUV in Fullerton
La Habra Woman Charged with Child Abuse After Toddler Falls from SUV
A woman from La Habra has been charged with misdemeanor child abuse following a concerning incident in January, where her toddler was seen falling out of a moving SUV at a busy intersection in Orange County.
Jacqueline Marie Hernandez, 35, was officially charged on Wednesday in Orange County, with her initial court appearance scheduled for Thursday. It remains unclear whether Hernandez has retained legal counsel.
The incident occurred on January 20 between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. at the intersection of N. Euclid Street and W. Malvern Avenue. Video footage captured the moment when the child fell from the passenger side of a black SUV as the driver made a left turn, according to the Fullerton Police Department.
The video shows the vehicle coming to an immediate halt, after which a woman exited from the driver’s side and retrieved the child from the ground.
The footage was widely shared on social media, prompting a witness to contact the Fullerton Police Department with details about the vehicle. However, no reports were filed with the police at the time of the incident.
Following the investigation, authorities confirmed that the vehicle belonged to Hernandez. She was arrested on suspicion of felony child abuse. Fortunately, the 19-month-old toddler was taken to a hospital and is expected to fully recover.
The Fullerton Police Department is urging anyone with further information about the case to contact them at 714-738-6782.
