HAMPTON, Va. — An 18-year-old woman from Newport News has been charged after her 8-year-old brother climbed out the window of a moving car in Hampton earlier this month.
Enashia Futrell, 18, was arrested Saturday and charged with involuntary manslaughter and child endangerment, the Hampton Police Division said.
The investigation began on October 2 when police responded to the 200 block of Golden Gate Drive shortly before 5 p.m. for a reported traffic accident. Officers found the boy unresponsive on the road.
He was airlifted to a hospital with life-threatening injuries, where he died on October 4.
According to court documents, Futrell was driving a Ford Expedition and said she did not know her brother had gotten out and onto the roof. Based on the investigation, all of the windows of the vehicle were rolled down and the vehicle was driving through the apartment complex at a higher speed than the posted 10 mph speed limit.
Apartment complex security video reportedly showed two children, one in the rear driver seat and one in the front passenger seat, hanging out of the open windows with no restraints. The child in the back seat eventually climbed out and got onto the roof while the vehicle was still moving.
Police said the video showed the boy "car surfing" on top of the vehicle for approximately 1,000 feet before falling to the ground.
Court documents said Futrell admitted to speeding in the parking lot and was driving while distracted at the time.