A Michigan woman faces charges of child abuse and reckless driving after posting a video on social media showing children hanging out of her moving car while driving.
Ashjunaria Virginia Townsend, a 23-year-old Detroit resident, was taken into custody following the incident earlier this month.
According to the local police department, Townsend was charged with one count of reckless driving and four counts of second-degree child abuse.
The video, which went viral after being posted online, allegedly showed Townsend’s nieces and nephews, aged 5, 9, and two 10-year-olds, standing on the car seats with their heads out of the windows while she was behind the wheel on Feb. 10.
In the footage obtained by Fox 2, one child can be seen sitting on Townsend’s lap while the others hang out of the windows.
Detroit Police Chief James White condemned Townsend’s actions, describing them as “outrageous” and highlighting the potential danger posed to the children.
Despite Townsend’s claim that she was driving at a slow speed of 2 mph, authorities deemed her actions reckless and charged her accordingly.
Townsend expressed regret for the incident and apologized to the parents of the children involved, acknowledging that the situation could have ended in tragedy.
Townsend was released on a $50,000 personal bond and was scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday morning. A preliminary examination is set for March 5.
The Detroit Police Department stated that they would continue to assist the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office in prosecuting the case.
