A woman has been arrested after video footage surfaced showing a 19-month-old child being ejected from a vehicle as it turned through an intersection in Orange County.
The Fullerton Police Department said Monday that officers became aware of a video circulating on social media that shows a toddler falling from a black SUV while it was turning from Euclid Street onto Malvern Avenue in Fullerton earlier this month.
Authorities stated the incident likely occurred between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. on Jan. 20 and confirmed that no emergency calls were received at the time regarding the child’s fall. Police also noted that the same intersection was later involved in a crash tied to suspected jewel thieves three days after the incident.
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The footage, captured by a dashcam from a vehicle traveling in the opposite direction, shows the SUV’s front passenger-side door opening as the driver made a left turn from Malvern Avenue onto Euclid Street.
After the child fell onto the roadway, the SUV came to a sudden stop. Fullerton police said the driver “nearly caused a traffic collision” with a vehicle behind them. A woman was then seen exiting the driver’s side, running to the child, lifting them up, and returning to the SUV before the video cut off.
Video shows 19-month-old child fly out of car in Southern California; mother arrested. Jan. 2026. (Fullerton PD)
Video shows 19-month-old child fly out of car in Southern California; mother arrested. Jan. 2026. (Fullerton PD)
Video shows 19-month-old child fly out of car in Southern California; mother arrested. Jan. 2026. (Fullerton PD)
Four days later, a witness contacted police to report the incident. Investigators followed up and were led to a home in La Habra, where they located the SUV, the child, and the woman shown in the video.
“The female, identified as Jacqueline Hernandez, a 35-year-old La Habra resident and the child’s mother, was arrested and booked into the Fullerton City Jail on suspicion of felony child abuse,” police said.
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Police said the child suffered injuries “consistent with the fall” and was hospitalized. Authorities expect the child to fully recover.
Anyone with information that could help investigators is urged to contact Fullerton Police Department Sensitive Crimes Unit Detective H. Rios at 714-738-6782 or [email protected].