A babysitter in Connecticut is facing charges for running over the 2-year-old child she was meant to be looking after with a car.
Maria Santiago, 55, who was looking after several children, allegedly ran over the toddler after he opened the door of her car and fell out while the vehicle was moving. Local police said that the child sustained serious injuries in the event.
Santiago turned herself in on Monday after Connecticut State Police issued a warrant for her arrest. According to the warrant, Santiago had another child in the car at the time—an 11-year-old girl—as well as three other children at her house.
Santiago was given several charges: four counts of Risk of Injury to a Minor, and one count of Failure to Apply Child Restraint System. She is due to appear in court on Tuesday.
State troopers who investigated the event said that the child had not been properly restrained inside the car, allowing him to stand up and open the door of the vehicle, a 2024 Toyota Highlander.
Following the collision, the child was taken to Yale Children’s Hospital, where he was treated for suspected serious injuries. According to the report, Santiago also needed to go to the hospital, as she had a panic attack during the incident.
A warrant was issued for Santiago after Connecticut State Police’s major crime squad investigated the incident, and collected witness statements from neighbors and the other child in the car.
The report also said that it was left to the 11-year-old girl to call emergency services due to the babysitter’s reaction, with the warrant reading: “The witness stated that as they were driving around the curve in the roadway, the child opened the rear door and fell out of the vehicle.
“The witness told Officer Massey that Maria was screaming, asking her what they should do. The witness stated that she tried calling 911 but the call went to her mother.”
A statement from the Connecticut State Police said: “Maria Santiago turned herself into Troop F-Westbrook on the strength of an active arrest warrant. Central District Major Crimes Detectives began to investigate this incident, which occurred in the town of Clinton, at the request of the Middlesex County State’s Attorney’s Office.
“This investigation began following the report of a minor child falling from a moving vehicle and being run over. Santiago was released from custody on a written promise to appear and is scheduled to appear at Middletown Superior Court on Tuesday.”
Newsweek contacted Connecticut State Police for more information on the charges.
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