The baby dragged after falling from a car Tuesday in Westminster is doing better, but the 16-year-old driver may face charges for driving with just a learner?s permit, police said.
The 15-month-old child was expected to be released from the hospital Thursday, Westminster police spokesman Capt. Randy Barnes said.
The child suffered head injuries after being dragged 80 feet from a moving vehicle when the child?s foot caught in the seat belt, Barnes said.
The child was wearing a seat belt, but was not in a child safety seat and was likely able to open the car door, he said.
The driver is expected to face traffic charges for driving without a license and for not having the child properly secured, Barnes said.
The child?s mother, also 16, was a passenger in the car.
“We are working with child protective services of Carroll County on this case,” Barnes said.
The incident highlights the need for child safety seats and inspections to ensure they are installed properly, he said.
“This is a tragedy, but it also gives us an opportunity to stress the importance of using good judgment,” Barnes said.
The Police Department has certified safety technicians who will examine safety seats.
Carroll also has a child safety seat loan program for low-income parents, said Shannon Oehlers, health educator at the Carroll County Health Department.
The program provided 165 seats last year, she said.
In Howard County, the health department also loans car seats to low-income families, but the supplies are limited, spokeswoman Patti Schwartz said.
