California Mother Arrested After 19‑Month‑Old Falls From Moving SUV at Busy Intersection — Toddler Expected to Recover

Warning: Video of this incident may be disturbing to some viewers.

A 35-year-old woman has been arrested after surveillance video appeared to show her toddler falling from the front passenger side of a moving SUV in Fullerton, California. The Fullerton Police Department identified the woman as Jacqueline Hernandez of La Habra; she was taken into custody on suspicion of felony child abuse, officials said.

Police say the incident occurred on Jan. 20 between approximately 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. at the intersection of N. Euclid Street and W. Malvern Avenue. No report was filed immediately after the event; a witness who saw the footage came forward on Jan. 24 to alert authorities.

Jacqueline Hernandez's baby falls from SUVFullerton Police Department

According to police and the video, a black SUV completed a turn at the intersection when the front passenger door opened and a 19-month-old child fell onto the roadway. The footage appears to show the child narrowly avoiding being struck by the SUV and nearly being hit by a light-colored vehicle behind it; the driver of that second car braked hard while another vehicle swerved to avoid the scene.

After the child fell, the driver of the SUV stopped, exited the vehicle, picked up the toddler and then returned to the driver's seat before driving away, according to investigators who reviewed the video.

Officers say a follow-up investigation based on witness-provided identifying information led them to a La Habra residence where they located the vehicle, the child and the woman shown in the footage. The child sustained injuries consistent with a fall and was taken to a local hospital; Fullerton police say the toddler is expected to make a full recovery.

The investigation is ongoing. It was not immediately known whether Hernandez has retained legal counsel.

How to Report Information

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the Fullerton Police Department's Sensitive Crimes Unit, Detective H. Rios, at (714) 738-6782 or hrios@fullertonpd.org. Tips may also be submitted anonymously to Orange County Crime Stoppers at (855) TIP-OCCS or via www.p3tips.com/913.