An unfortunate incident occurred in Connecticut involving a 55-year-old babysitter and a 2-year-old boy. The child, who was unsecured in the backseat, opened one of the rear doors and fell out of the vehicle, resulting in a tragic accident.
Maria V. Santiago was arrested on Monday and is facing charges related to the safety of minors. Authorities have announced that she is being charged with four counts of risk of injury to a minor and one count of failure to apply a child restraint system.
Officers from the Clifton Police Department swiftly responded to a distressing 911 call on May 14, 2024, regarding a vehicular accident. The incident occurred on Sunnybrook Lane in Clinton, approximately 40 miles south of Hartford. The accident involved a 2-year-old child, adding to the urgency of the situation.
After reaching the location, emergency personnel interviewed Santiago, who was on his way home after collecting an 11-year-old child from the bus stop. According to reports, Santiago claimed that she was navigating a left curve when the incident occurred, with the boy unexpectedly opening the rear passenger door and falling from the vehicle. She accidentally ran over the boy with her vehicle.
Authorities discovered that Santiago had left her three young children, aged 9, 4, and 2, alone at home while cooking chicken on the stovetop. The 9-year-old informed the authorities that Santiago is their babysitter and mentioned that she regularly collects the 11-year-old girl from the bus stop. The 9-year-old girl mentioned that it was the first occasion Santiago entrusted her with the responsibility of looking after the younger children at home.
Authorities later interviewed the 11-year-old who was present in the vehicle with Santiago and the victim during the incident.
According to the affidavit, the child informed the authorities that Maria neglects to ensure the child wears a seatbelt, resulting in the child being “loose” in the back seat. According to reports, a young child accidentally fell out of a moving vehicle while going around a curve in the road. An [11-year-old] informed [police] that Maria was in a state of panic, desperately seeking advice on what actions to take.
Upon entering the vehicle, the 11-year-old noticed that the 2-year-old was not properly secured in a car seat and was standing on the floor behind the driver’s seat. Additionally, she mentioned that Santiago appeared to be driving at a higher speed than usual on the day of the accident.
The affidavit states that during the sharp left curve on Sunnybrook Lane, the 11-year-old child slid across the back seat and ended up near the rear passenger side door just behind her. According to her account, she glanced over to ensure his well-being, only to discover that the rear passenger door had been left ajar. According to her account, the young child managed to unlatch the car door and accidentally tumbled out of the vehicle.
A child was rushed to Yale New Haven Hospital by ambulance due to suspected serious physical injuries. The child’s condition was described as fluctuating between consciousness and unconsciousness. He was admitted to the hospital’s Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, and his condition after initial treatment was withheld from the document.
Santiago was also taken to the hospital due to experiencing a panic attack as reported by Law&Crime.
The state’s attorney’s office requested the assistance of the Connecticut State Police’s Collision Accident Reconstruction Squad at the scene.
A witness reported hearing a woman screaming outside his home around 3 p.m. and decided to investigate. He spotted Santiago standing beside the car, which was halted right in the middle of the intersection. Additionally, he observed that a child was stuck beneath the tire on the back passenger side.
The affidavit stated that according to the witness, the child was found lying on their back, with the vehicle’s rear tire resting on their legs. According to the witness, it seemed like the child had been hit by the vehicle. He quickly told Santiago to dial 911 and to back up the vehicle to free the child’s legs.
Santiago has been released on a written promise to appear at her court date on July 30.