Seven-year-old girl is killed after falling through an open window of a moving SUV onto California’s freeway – while the mother and her partner are arrested on child endangerment charges
- A seven-year-old girl fell out of the back of a moving SUV on the California freeway
- The girl’s mother, Veronda Gladney, was driving with her daughter, who was not wearing a seat belt, when she somehow fell out of the open car window onto the street
- Children under the age of 8 must be secured in a car seat by California law
A seven-year-old girl fell from the rear of a moving SUV on a California freeway and died when several vehicles failed to slow before colliding with her.
The girl’s mother, 28-year-old Veronda Gladney, was driving with her daughter, who was not wearing a seat belt, when she somehow fell out of an open window in the back.
Police arrested the mother and her boyfriend, Michael Branch, on child endangerment charges when they found the girl’s body along the north lanes of the 5 Freeway on Weldon Canyon Road just after 3 a.m. on July 4.
“Upon initial investigation, it was determined that the seven-year-old girl fell through an open window from a moving 1999 Lincoln navigation device and was fatally injured,” a CHP report on the incident said.
Stock photo: A seven-year-old girl fell out of the back of a moving SUV on the California freeway and died when several vehicles failed to slow before crashing into her
However, police also cited interviewed witnesses who said the window may have been broken in a previous incident, allowing the girl to get out, although the accident is still under investigation.
The California Highway Patrol said officers found the girl’s body after receiving a report of an unidentified object on the road.
California law requires children under the age of 8 to be secured in a car seat or booster seat in the back seat of a vehicle.
Eight year olds or children who have reached 4 feet 9 inches tall are required by state law to be restrained with a seat belt.
“I’ve never seen a child fall out of a moving vehicle,” CHP official Joshua Greengard told ABC7. “I’ve been to a lot of tragedies in my time, but this one is very unfortunate. It’s very sad.’
Officials said the mother was distraught after the incident.
A pretrial hearing is scheduled for July 27 in Santa Clarita, but it’s unclear if the Los Angeles County Attorney’s Office will press charges against the mother.
Anyone with information is urged to contact the CHP Newhall Area Office at 661-600-1600.