A 35-year-old California mother, Jacqueline Hernandez, found herself arrested and charged with felony child abuse after her 19-month-old child fell from her moving SUV at a busy Fullerton intersection.
The toddler tumbled out of the passenger side of the vehicle during a left turn, suffering scrapes and bruises but is expected to make a full recovery.
As a mom myself, I can’t shake how troubling this is—how does something like this even happen?
The incident made its way onto social media after someone caught it on video, showing the child falling into the street while another car trailed close behind.
Both vehicles screeched to a halt, and the mother ran out to grab her child from the road.
Here’s the part that really gets people talking: the child didn’t get medical attention until four days later, after the mother’s arrest.
Details of the Incident and Investigation
It all went down at a Fullerton intersection, with a 19-month-old falling out of a moving SUV—yep, there’s video proof, and it went viral fast.
The Fullerton Police Department didn’t even know about it until a witness stepped forward days later, which led to Jacqueline Hernandez’s arrest.
How the 19-Month-Old Fell From the Vehicle
The video is honestly hard to watch: the front passenger door of a black SUV swings open during a left turn from North Euclid Street onto West Malvern Avenue.
The child spills out and skids across the busy intersection.
This happened sometime between 8 and 9 a.m. on a Tuesday morning, right in the middle of rush hour chaos.
The SUV stopped the second the child hit the ground.
A sedan behind the SUV slammed on its brakes, stopping just inches from disaster.
The toddler ended up with some nasty scrapes, but police say a full recovery is expected.
Immediate Aftermath and Public Reaction
Jacqueline Hernandez jumped out, scooped up her child, and dashed back to her SUV.
Social media did its thing—the video racked up millions of views in no time.
Strangely, no one called the police at first.
The Fullerton Police only learned about the whole thing after the video blew up online.
On Saturday, a witness finally came forward and gave police key info about the SUV.
That tip helped officers track down the mother and her child.
Fullerton Police Department’s Role
Officers used the witness’s information to locate a home in La Habra.
There, they found the woman, the SUV, and the toddler from the viral video.
Police arrested Jacqueline Hernandez, 35, on Sunday and booked her at Fullerton City Jail on suspicion of felony child endangerment.
That charge is no joke—it reflects the real danger the child faced.
Investigators had to piece together what happened and figure out how the child ended up falling out of a moving car.
Ongoing Investigation and Reporting Tips
The Fullerton Police Department is still digging into the case and wants more witnesses to come forward.
Detective H. Rios is handling things and can be reached at (714) 738-6782 or [email protected].
If you want to stay anonymous, Orange County Crime Stoppers at (855) 847-6227 or the P3Tips system are your best bet.
Authorities are still trying to figure out how the door opened and why the child wasn’t buckled in.
Anyone with info about what happened at North Euclid Street and West Malvern Avenue should speak up.
Legal Consequences and Child Safety Measures
Felony child abuse charges in California are serious business—think prison time and possible loss of parental rights.
Knowing the state’s car seat laws and actually following them can save lives, plain and simple.
Felony Child Abuse Charges Explained
California brings felony child abuse charges when a parent or caregiver does something that seriously hurts a child—or puts them in real danger.
Under Penal Code Section 273a, prosecutors can file charges if someone acts willfully or with criminal negligence and puts a child’s health or safety at risk.
The penalties? Not light—conviction could mean 2, 4, or 6 years in state prison, depending on what happened.
If there are prior offenses or the child suffered severe injuries, judges can tack on extra time.
In cases like this, prosecutors have to prove the parent didn’t secure the child and that this counts as criminal negligence.
Whether it’s a misdemeanor or felony depends on how badly the child was hurt.
If convicted, parents could lose custody and get reported to Child Protective Services.
California Law on Child Car Restraints
California Vehicle Code Section 27360 lays out strict rules for car seats based on a child’s age, weight, and height.
Kids under 2 years old must ride in rear-facing car seats unless they weigh 40 pounds or more or stand at least 40 inches tall.
Here’s the gist:
- Kids under 8 need a car seat or booster in the back seat
- Rear-facing seats for those under 2 (unless they’re big for their age)
- Forward-facing seats with harnesses after outgrowing rear-facing
- Booster seats until they’re 4 feet 9 inches tall
Break these rules, and you’re looking at fines starting at $100 for a first offense.
If a child gets hurt because they weren’t buckled in right, felony child abuse charges can follow.
Cops can pull you over just for a child restraint violation—no other reason needed.
Preventing Similar Tragedies: Parental Guidance
Let’s be honest—sometimes we rush and forget the basics. Always double-check that every car door’s closed and locked before you drive off.
Most newer cars come with rear child safety locks, and you really should use them. Flip those locks on, then give them a test every so often to make sure they’re actually working.
Before any trip, try this quick five-point safety check: make sure everyone’s buckled up, car seats are in tight, child locks are on, doors are fully shut, and kids can’t fiddle with handles or window buttons.
Install car seats exactly how the manufacturer says—don’t wing it. If you’re not sure, swing by a fire station or hospital; they usually offer free inspections and won’t judge you for asking.
Keep your kids in the safest seat they fit, even if they’re itching to move up. There’s no rush—safety first, milestones second.
