Texas Woman Arrested After 9-Year-Old Girl She Told to Move Her Car Crashes and Is Thrown Out of Vehicle in San Antonio
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS — A 25-year-old woman in San Antonio has been arrested and charged after a terrifying incident caught on camera showed a 9-year-old girl being ejected from a moving car she was told to drive.
According to FOX 4 News, the incident occurred on Sunday, November 9, while the woman, identified as Ladeja Pickett, was outside decorating for Christmas. Pickett reportedly asked the child, who was not her own, to move her car out of the driveway.
Moments later, home-security footage captured the car reversing down the street uncontrollably before crashing into a parked truck. The shocking video shows the child being flung out of the driver’s seat and onto the pavement after losing control of the vehicle.
Security Footage and Witness Account
Neighbor Erik Sanchez, whose CCTV system recorded the incident, told Storyful that he heard the crash and ran outside. “The girl was ejected before the car hit my truck,” Sanchez said, describing the moment he realized what had happened.
Emergency services were called to the scene, and the child was treated for a forehead laceration and road rash on one leg. Thankfully, authorities said her injuries were minor and non-life-threatening.
Criminal Charges Filed
Following an investigation, Pickett was arrested and charged with injury to a child and child endangerment, local media reported. Police noted that Pickett’s decision to allow the girl to operate the car, even briefly, violated state safety laws.
The footage has since gone viral, sparking public outrage and raising concerns about child supervision and vehicle safety.
Community Response
Residents in the area expressed shock over the incident. “It’s hard to believe an adult would let a child drive a car, even for a second,” one local parent commented online.
Authorities are urging parents and caregivers to never allow unlicensed minors near vehicle controls, noting that even stationary cars can become deadly when mishandled.
The case remains under review by Bexar County authorities.
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