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Orange County Mother Charged With Misdemeanor After Toddler Fell From Moving SUV

Prosecutors filed a single misdemeanor count following review of the widely shared dashcam incident.

Overview

  • Jacqueline Marie Hernandez, 35, faces one count of misdemeanor child abuse, according to the Orange County District Attorney's Office.
  • Dashcam video from Jan. 20 shows a 19-month-old falling from the front passenger side as a black SUV turned left at N. Euclid Street and W. Malvern Avenue in Fullerton.
  • The SUV stopped and a woman retrieved the child before driving away, with police noting the stop nearly caused a rear-end crash.
  • Investigators traced the vehicle to a La Habra residence and arrested Hernandez on suspicion of felony child abuse; she later bailed out.
  • Police said the toddler's injuries were consistent with the fall, the child was treated at a hospital, and a full recovery was expected.