Woman 'intentionally' ran over boyfriend, baby after dispute, Florida police say
A Florida woman was taken into custody after police said she "intentionally" ran over her son and significant other on Monday, leaving them with severe injuries, authorities said.
The 27-year-old woman from Lake Wales was charged with aggravated battery domestic, aggravated child abuse, negligent child abuse, battery domestic, and leaving the scene of a crash with property damage, according to the Polk County Sheriff's Office. She was arrested in Orlando at a relative's home.
Authorities said a domestic argument ensued between the woman and the man at their home. Tensions rose when the man, her boyfriend, stepped outside and threw a cinderblock at her car, Sheriff Grady Judd said in a news briefing.
During the conflict, the woman put her two other children − 6 months and 4 years old − into her Toyota Corolla.
When she got in the driver's seat, the man picked up the 16-month-old baby and tried to run away, but the woman "accelerated directly at the two victims," per the sheriff's office. She struck both of them before crashing into a trailer.
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The mother left the baby alone in critical condition, authorities say
Footage released by the sheriff's office shows the moment the woman ran over the victims. The woman left the infant at her neighbor's home, which was unoccupied.
The boyfriend demanded that the woman take the child to the hospital, but the woman refused and left the baby alone in the home, Judd explained.
The father picked the baby up and went to the hospital. The man suffered from bruising to his body and lungs but was later released.
The baby was in critical condition and suffered from a partially collapsed lung, multiple broken ribs, broken left shoulder and collar bone, and abrasions. The Florida Department of Children and Families is deciding where to place the other two children.
While speaking with detectives, the woman told them that there were other instances where she pretended that she was going to run him over but swerved the vehicle before striking him, so she thought he would move out of the way.
Authorities are investigating the matter. Lake Wales is about 62 miles from Tampa.
Taylor Ardrey is a news reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her at [email protected].