Girl missed bus, so annoyed mom hit her with car at school drop off, TN cops say

A family spat turned into a child abuse investigation when an angry mom drove over her daughter’s leg in a school’s parking lot, according to investigators in southeast Tennessee.

The dispute erupted Tuesday, Aug. 19, when the woman was forced to drive her child who missed the school bus to the Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy, the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office said in an Aug. 25 news release. The school hosts girls in grades 6 through 12.

“According to school staff, the student arrived at the principal’s office visibly upset and disclosed that the mother ... became angry after the child missed the school bus,” the sheriff’s office said.

“While exiting (her mom’s) vehicle, the student stated the mother accelerated before the child was fully outside, striking the victim’s right ankle and driving away from campus without stopping.”

Surveillance video corroborated the story, showing she was only partially out of the vehicle when it accelerated, “striking the child and leaving the scene with the door still open,” deputies said

The girl’s mother was charged with aggravated child abuse or neglect, officials said.

“This case remains under investigation and as it pertains to a juvenile, no additional details are available,” the sheriff’s office said.

Chattanooga is about a 135-mile drive southeast from Nashville.

This story was originally published August 26, 2025 at 10:48 AM with the headline "Girl missed bus, so annoyed mom hit her with car at school drop off, TN cops say."