A Texas mother is facing charges and a second could be arrested after letting kids ride on the hood and trunk of a moving car because they were wet from swimming. Courtesy Fox 4 Dallas

Father of girl who died falling from moving car speaks out

A GIRL, 12, has died after she and five playmates were made to sit on the roof of a car.

Octavia Watkins and her friends, aged eight to 14, had been to the Creekside Community Pool in Crowley, Texas, when they were met by Kisha Young, 39, and Octavia’s mother.

It was a one-minute trip from the pool to home but the women did not want the girls in Young’s Chevrolet Malibu in case their wet bathing suits damaged the vehicle’s upholstery, The Star-Telegraph reported.

The girls were made to sit on the roof of the car but four of them were thrown off when Young went around a corner.

Watkins and Octavia’s mother, who had been drinking, were unaware of what happened until a witness flagged down the car, NBC reported.

Octavia was knocked unconscious in the fall, suffering severe head injuries. She died in hospital after being kept alive by life support.

“I’ll never get my baby back,” Octavia’s father Desmond told Fox 4 News.

“I’ll never hear her say, ‘Hey, Daddy.’ I’m gonna have to live with that; they’re have to live with their fate.”

Kisha Young was charged over Octavia’s death with intoxication assault — a third degree felony. She also faces charges of injury to a child and DWI with a child. She was released from jail on a $110,000 bond.

Crowley Police said they were working with the District Attorney before deciding if further charges would be laid.

Desmond Watkins said he had not told his other children, an 11-year-old daughter and son, eight, that the criminal charges may be laid against their mother.

“It’s already hard enough with their sister just passing,” he said.

“And then we don’t know about their mum.

“When they called me, I rushed to the hospital ... I was furious ... drinking and all that.”

Texas’ Child Protective Services is investigating both women.

The surviving children were all taken away from their mothers and placed in the custody of relatives.

“The adults involved are responsible for the children, and whatever happens to them while they are in their care,” said Crowley police officer CC Meadows.

“Well of course we don’t know what they were thinking.

“However, they weren’t thinking safety.”

Octavia’s funeral will be held today.

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