Mom accused of child abuse for slamming on car brakes

PORT ST. LUCIE, FL (KTRK) -- A Florida woman faces child abuse charges for the way she tried to get her kids to stop fighting.

Police say Lorena Simpson slammed on the brakes to get her children, who were in the backseat, to stop arguing. Her 12-year-old daughter in the front seat wasn't buckled in when her mom hit the brakes. The sudden stopping caused her to slam her head into the windshield.

Sullivan says she had no idea anything was wrong until police showed up three days later.

"I didn't (do it) on purpose or intentionally harm my daughter, you understand," Simpson told ABC affiliate WPBF-TV. "If she ever once complained to me and said, 'hey mom I think I have a headache,' (but) she didn't. I'm heartbroken. My kids are gone."

The 12-year-old told investigators that she did complain of dizziness and a headache. Police also point out that the girl's head cracked the vehicle's windshield.

"There was no bump, so I'm sorry but I guess I did the wrong thing," Simpson said.

Simpson was arrested on a felony charge of child abuse. All three kids are now in their father's custody.