HAINES CITY, Fla. – A Haines City woman sought by police has turned herself in, on multiple charges after she drove head-on into a vehicle, causing an unrestrained child, to be injured on Monday morning.
Taquire Studimire, 34, faces charges of child abuse, tampering, reckless driving, hit and run, and resisting arrest without violence
On Monday Studimire drove her 2008 Honda Civic into the front of a garbage truck in the area of North 14th Street and Stuart Avenue before 8:30 a.m. on Monday. The driver of the truck told police that he honked his horn in an attempt to avoid being hit, but to no avail. Studimire then exited the vehicle with a young child in her hand and told the driver that he was at fault for the crash.
Video recordings from the truck’s dash camera showed the child sitting unrestrained in the front and being thrown into the dash as the vehicles made contact. Studimire is then seen grabbing the child from the floorboard and immediately exiting the vehicle to confront the truck driver.
Police say that at no point was she ever seen taking time to examine the child for potential injury. After confronting the truck’s driver, she reentered the vehicle and backed into traffic with the driver’s side door open, nearly striking another vehicle.
The child was later located at a daycare facility after suffering a head bruise and a swollen cheek. The child was transported to a hospital to be treated and to ensure that there were no other injuries. The child did not suffer any serious injuries.
“The blatant disregard shown for this child is appalling,” Chief Jim Elensky said. “She proceeded to put others in danger with her carelessness and has taken no responsibility for her actions. Perhaps jail time is what she needs to mull it over. It is fortunate that no one was seriously hurt.”