Mom Charged After Girl Falls From Moving Car

INDIANAPOLIS -- A mother of 2- and 3-year-old girls was arrested Thursday on child neglect charges after the younger child fell out of a moving car on Indianapolis' northwest side.

Femelia Aguilar, 31, of Indianapolis, was preliminarily charged with neglect of a dependent causing injury and operating a vehicle without a license.

Police said an officer saw the car going westbound on 34th Street near Moller Road at about 7:30 p.m. with a driver's side back door that had swung open.

Officer Nicholas Andrews said he then saw a 2-year-old girl fall out of the car and bounce into the eastbound lanes of 34th Street as the driver kept going for a couple of blocks at about 30 mph.

Andrews said he blocked traffic and rushed to the girl, who was crying and had suffered a cut on her nose and a sprained finger.

"There were two cars that had to take evasive action to get around her after she'd fallen in the street, which is why the officer put his car between those cars and that little girl," said Indianapolis police Sgt. Matthew Mount.

Aguilar's family members told 6News' Rick Hightower the incident was an unfortunate accident.

"She's very careful with her kids," said Aguilar's aunt, Diana Luaromas. "It was just an accident. The kids were fighting, the door opened and she fell."

Police said there were no child restraints in the back seat of the car and that Aguilar was cited for not having them.

Child Protective Services was called to the scene and took custody of both girls. Aguilar was held Friday in the Marion County Jail.