Negligent Mom, Uncle Arrested After 4-Year-Old Falls Out Of Moving Vehicle In Florida

The mother and an uncle of a 4-year-old child have been arrested for being negligent after the child fell out of a moving vehicle while three other unrestrained kids remained in the backseat of the car.

On Tuesday, a witness called 911 and reported that a child fell through the rear door of a moving car as it headed west on State Road 100, said police. The mother, who was seated at the passenger seat, allegedly did not realize that the 4-year-old was missing. She reportedly told officers that she was sleeping.

When she woke up from her nap, she heard her other children in the car ask where the 4-year-old was, reported NY Daily News.

"The back door was open, I see this kid fall out so I got over as quick as I could and went and grabbed him and I’m sitting with him until someone gets here but nobody has come back," said the witness, reported WKMG-TV.

The car later returned to the scene to pick up the child. The car seated four children, aged 4 to 9, and had no car seat. The deputies found that the other children were unrestrained as well. Officers noticed a strong smell of marijuana coming from the vehicle and found recently smoked marijuana, about one gram of marijuana and a bag of Xanax bars inside the car.

The man who was driving the car has been identified as 18-year-old Jacob Santos. He was charged with child neglect, driving with a suspended license and possession of marijuana under 20 grams. Meanwhile, the mom, 26-year-old Desiree Rodriguez, has been charged with child neglect and possession of a controlled substance.

"I am glad that the child was not hurt. This could have ended very badly for the child,” Sheriff Rick Staly was quoted as saying by Daily News. “Thank you to the witness for calling us and to the deputies that quickly responded to protect the child and arresting the uncle and mother for child neglect.”

"This is another mother who will not be earning the mother of the year award," added Staly.

The four children were turned over to the state Department of Children and Families.