An Indiana mother has been handed a nine-year prison sentence, with five years suspended, for unintentionally running over her 8-year-old daughter during a game she often played with her children. Jasmine White, 27, will spend four years in prison with the possibility of work release, according to the decision made by the St. Joseph Prosecutor’s Office. White admitted to charges of child neglect in January and received her sentence last Friday.
The game, as explained by one of White’s children, involved a race to the car where White would lock the doors and pretend to leave her children behind. During one such game, one of her daughters got her foot caught under the moving car’s rear tire, causing her to fall.
The incident occurred on August 29, 2024, at a South Bend apartment complex, and resulted in severe injuries for the young girl. She suffered a fractured skull, orbital fractures, deep facial lacerations that reached the bone, and lost five teeth. These details were reported by the local NBC affiliate, WNDU.
Following the accident, the girl was hospitalized for several days, where she underwent intubation and IV sedation. She has since been discharged, according to reports. The girl’s sibling, who witnessed the incident, told investigators that White was driving faster than usual when the accident happened.
The 8-year-old was reportedly holding onto the car door handle when she was run over. Video footage of the incident allegedly shows White accelerating as her daughter clung to the passenger door handle, reaching speeds between 15 to 20 mph.
White will serve her sentence at the St. Joseph Correctional Center and will be on probation for two years following her release. This case serves as a stark reminder of the potential dangers of seemingly harmless games and the importance of prioritizing children’s safety.