A mother who ran over her young son when he refused to go to school has been sentenced to 30 days in jail.
Tiffany Kosakowski, 36, who ran over her nine-year-old while dropping him off at school in Belmont, Michigan, told a judge she will have to “live with this for the rest of my life”.
The mother pleaded guilty to reckless driving causing serious impairment, but a charge of second-degree child abuse was dismissed in a plea agreement.
Kent county circuit court judge Curt Benson said her actions were “simply inexcusable” and sentenced her to six months in jail, however all but 30 days were suspended.
The court heard how Kosakowski had dropped off her son at Chandler Woods Charter Academy on 11 December when he ran back to her car because he did not want to go to school.
The youngster clung on to the passenger side front door as the vehicle travelled 47 yards before he lost his grip and fell under the back tyre.
The child’s father said police reports showed Kosakowski allegedly drove “left and right to shake him off”, news site MLive reported.
He suffered multiple skull fractures and a traumatic brain injury which doctors believe will continue to affect him later in life.
According to MLive, the judge said he did not want to make the boy’s situation worse by taking his mother away from him for a significant amount of time.
Kosakowski’s lawyer described her as a loving parent and said she was the only stability her son had.
About 30 letters were sent to the judge by family and friends, the majority of which supported Kosakowski, although letters from the boy’s father and an aunt and uncle did not, MLive reported.
