Mom in Fort Lauderdale Car Accident Heads to Jail; Son Was Hurled Out of Car, Over Wall, and Into Backyard
The mother who was driving in a recent Fort Lauderdale, Florida highway accident that sent a boy hurtling out of the car, over a wall, and into a backyard will go from the hospital to jail.
According to news reports and the Florida Highway Patrol, the Fort Lauderdale, Fla. single-car crash along Florida I-95 took place last Friday around 11:30 a.m. News reports state the mother, 28-year-old Roseline Jean-Baptiste, of North Miami Beach, Florida, was driving in the northbound lanes when she swerved to avoid a tire in the road (a form of highway road debris that poses a serious hazard to drivers) -- then going on to the grassy shoulder, flipping the car several times, and stopping at a concrete barrier.
Jean-Baptiste's son, age 11, who was in the backseat, was ejected from the car, flew over an 18-foot wall, and landed in a nearby backyard. A 3-year-old sister remained in the backseat; she was hospitalized at North Broward Medical Center in Florida along with her mother and brother. All three are expected to be OK.
Fort Lauderdale car accident injury attorneys are very familiar with Florida safely laws in place to keep children safe in motor vehicles. In the State of Florida, children age 5 and younger must be properly restrained when riding in family cars, trucks, minivans and SUVs, no matter where they are seated. And children age 3 and younger must be in car seats in the back seat in Florida. Infant passengers have their own special safety regulations in place that parents must follow regarding child car seats and safety restraints. (For more, see link below on "Child Car Seat Requirements" from the Broward Sheriff's Office, Broward County, Fla.)
Media reports state that Jean-Baptiste will face a number of charges in this Fort Lauderdale I-95 car accident, including child neglect (both children wore seat belts but were not in child seats), along with Florida Highway Patrol charges including driving without a valid license, multiple traffic violations, and negligence. A Broward County, Florida judge has also barred her from seeing her children, according to the latest news reports.
Mother barred from kids after car crash
WPTV.com, Sun-Sentinel May 17, 2010
Mom charged in car crash that propelled son into backyard
The Bellingham Herald, May 15, 2010
Related Web Resources
Child Car Seat Requirements (from the Broward Sheriff's Office)
Child Passenger Safety News & Features (from the Florida Highway Patrol)
