A Georgia mother is facing criminal charges after authorities say she allowed her 13-year-old daughter to drive an SUV during a school drop-off, leading to a crash that left the mother seriously injured outside an elementary school, as reported [1] by The New York Post.
According to the Cobb County Police Department, 35-year-old Shumeka Johnson has been charged with reckless conduct in connection with an incident that occurred on April 22 outside Brumby Elementary School in Cobb County, Georgia.
Investigators said Johnson’s 13-year-old daughter was behind the wheel of a 2017 Chrysler Pacifica that had stopped in the school’s drop-off lane during the early morning hours. Also inside the vehicle were a 4-year-old boy and a 6-month-old girl.
Police said the SUV unexpectedly accelerated while Johnson was standing in front of the vehicle.
According to authorities, the vehicle struck Johnson and then “came to a final rest on top of her.”
Investigators said the teenage driver then shifted the SUV into reverse, causing it to back into an unoccupied parked vehicle before coming to a stop.
Emergency responders transported Johnson to a nearby hospital after she suffered serious injuries in the crash.
Authorities allege that Johnson knowingly allowed her teenage daughter to operate the vehicle despite the lack of an adult driver inside.
An arrest affidavit obtained by local media states that Johnson “did endanger the bodily safety” of her daughter because “the vehicle did not have an adult inside.”
The affidavit further alleges that Johnson engaged in reckless conduct “by consciously disregarding a substantial and unjustifiable risk that her act or omission would endanger the safety of said person and such disregard constituted a gross deviation from the standard of care which a reasonable person would have exercised in the situation.”
The crash occurred during the busy morning drop-off period at Brumby Elementary School, located in Cobb County.
Following an investigation, authorities sought criminal charges against Johnson. A warrant for her arrest was issued on June 3 after Cobb County Magistrate Court Judge Charles Chesbro determined there was probable cause to support the charge.
Court records indicate Johnson’s bond was set at $300.
The incident has also drawn attention because of the severity of Johnson’s injuries and the family’s subsequent fundraising efforts.
A GoFundMe campaign created by family friend Angel Makey describes Johnson as “a devoted wife and mother of five” who works as a self-employed stylist.
According to the fundraising page, Johnson continues to face a lengthy recovery process following the crash.
The campaign states that the injuries she suffered require “several ongoing surgeries” and says she is now facing “the challenge of learning to walk again.”
The fundraiser also notes the additional challenges facing the family due to the presence of a young infant in the household.
“With a newborn daughter just six months old, Shumeka’s recovery is even more demanding, and she is unable to work during this difficult time,” the fundraiser states.
As of Thursday morning, the crowdfunding campaign had raised approximately $1,800 toward its stated goal of $5,000.
The case remains pending in Cobb County as Johnson faces the reckless conduct charge stemming from the school drop-off incident.
Authorities have not announced any charges against the teenage driver, and the investigation appears to focus on the decision to allow the minor to operate the vehicle.
The unusual crash has sparked attention across Georgia because it occurred in an elementary school drop-off lane and involved multiple young children inside the vehicle at the time of the incident.