Family devastated after mother runs over baby by accident, charges unclear

DETROIT (WJBK) - A Detroit family heartbroken after a mother runs over her 10-month-old baby in the driveway.

Police are calling it a tragic accident saying the mother had no idea the baby - who just learned to walk - had wandered near the car.

"She's so little, so young," said Stacie Clayton, the baby's grandmother. "It was just a tragic accident."

It was supposed to be the day the family of 10-month-old Jada Lauryn Taylor would be leaving Detroit on their way to Tennessee to start over. But instead, baby Jada's parents are here Friday, planning her funeral.

"They were here washing clothes and preparing to leave," Clayton said. "She and the baby's father didn't realize the baby had walked out."

Jada's grandmother says Jada's father had been playing with the kids in the backyard of her home on Westmoreland Thursday evening when Jada's mother got into her Ford Explorer to move it, so she could wash it.

"When she pulled off everybody was hollering and screaming stop," Clayton said. "And so she stopped, but in the midst of her stopping she saw everyone's reactions and backed up again."

Jada’s family says the sweet, chubby-cheeked 10-month-old had just learned to walk and her mother never saw her in front of the SUV.

"She's very traumatized by the incident and she feels very guilty, her and the father both," Clayton said.

If this situation weren't devastating enough, Clayton says Jada's young siblings are just 2 and 3 years old, witnessed the entire thing.

"We're not even sure if they understand what happened," she said. "We're just trying to take our time now and support everybody."

As Detroit police say they also believe it was just a horrific accident. The case is expected to reach the Wayne County Prosecutors office early next week.

"We are worried about charges, but we're not going to let that consume us right now," Clayton said. "We're more worried about taking care of Jada and getting her buried."

Now this heartbroken family says, they can only hope Jada’s sudden death will help prevent another.

"Parents, just be aware of your kids, what they're doing," Clayton said. "Where they're at, at all times and keep them close so we don't have to have another situation where we're burying another baby, or another child."

If you would like to donate to help the family pay for Jada's funeral, click here for the GoFundMe page.