An Indiana woman has been sentenced after accidentally running over her 8-year-old daughter during a game she played with her children, according to the St. Joseph County Prosecutor’s Office.
Jasmine White, 27, of South Bend, Indiana, told police the incident was unintentional and occurred during a game she frequently played with her four children. According to a probable cause affidavit, White’s game involved racing her kids to her Chevrolet Equinox, jumping in, locking the doors, and pretending to leave without them. One of the children later told an investigator that they did not enjoy the game, but their mother continued to play it.
On August 29, 2024, while playing the game in her apartment complex parking lot, White reportedly began driving at approximately 15 mph while her 8-year-old daughter clung to the car’s door handle. According to a witness statement from one of her children, White’s other kids were also running alongside the moving vehicle. A 6-year-old child stated that White was aware the 8-year-old was hanging onto the door handle as she drove.
White’s 6-year-old child further told investigators that their mother was driving faster than usual during this instance of the game. As a result, the 8-year-old lost her grip and fell, with her foot getting caught under the rear tire of the vehicle. She suffered severe head injuries and lost five teeth after hitting the ground. The child was in critical condition following the incident but has since been released from the hospital.
White initially pleaded not guilty to charges but later changed her plea in January, admitting guilt to two counts of child neglect. She was sentenced to nine years, with five years suspended. White will serve four years in the St. Joseph County Community Corrections work release program, followed by two years of probation.
Authorities emphasized the dangers of reckless behavior involving vehicles and urged parents to ensure the safety of their children at all times. The case highlights the serious legal consequences of negligence that leads to harm, even when unintentional.
