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A 25-year-old woman has been arrested on charges of child endangerment after asking her young neighbour to move her car.
The nine-year-old girl in San Antonio, Texas, sustained injuries after flying out of the driver’s seat when she lost control of the vehicle.
Ladeja Pickett asked the child, who was not hers, to move her car so she could put up Christmas decorations, local reports said.
Neighbour Erik Sanchez said the girl was ejected from Pickett’s car before it crashed into his truck, which was parked by the curb.
Video footage from Sanchez’s home caught the moment the silver car skidded out of control, with the driver’s door flying open before the smash.
The girl suffered a laceration to her forehead and road rash to one of her legs, but is still receiving treatment in the hospital.
Her infuriated mother told local news KSAT: ‘She had no right to hand a minor keys, and no right to put that car in reverse.’
Though the mother says Pickett is a family friend, she told her that her daughter didn’t know how to drive.
Pickett’s response? ‘She’s going to learn.’
Local reports say that after saying that, Pickett but the car in reverse when the girl had her foot on the gas, leading to the horrific scene.
‘She’s had three surgical procedures since Sunday,’ the nine-year-old’s mum said, but added they hope she makes a full recovery.
Earlier this year, a woman in Scotland admitted to reckless conduct after allowing a girl under the age of 10 to drive her car through a village.
32-year-old Sophie-Leigh Gemmell let the girl drive barefoot and in bad weather on July 10 last year in Crimond, Aberdeenshire.
Footage of the incident was shown in Peterhead Sheriff Court, where Gemmell was heard cheering her on.
At one point, the Sugababes were heard playing as the child used the wipers, indicators and steered the vehicle.
Gemmell has been deferred for reports until next month, but admitted culpably and recklessly, with utter disregard for the consequences, allowing a child to drive a motor vehicle on a public road.
In May, a seven-year-old boy was grounded ‘for the rest of his life’ after stealing his mum’s car and driving his sister to McDonald’s.
The boy, who hasn’t been named, went for the early morning joyride with his sibling after the pair wanted a Happy Meal, their mum said.
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