A Florida mother accidentally ran over her 12-year-old daughter after dropping her off at school on her first day of middle school, WFTS reported Monday.

According to Officer Ken Watson of the Florida Highway Patrol, the mother had just dropped off her daughter in the right turn lane at Booker Middle School in Sarasota when the girl accidentally dropped her backpack and school materials off under the family's SUV and crawled under the vehicle to retrieve them. WFTS. (Related article: Son allegedly runs over father multiple times, killing him outside bar)

A Sarasota middle school student accidentally runs over his mother during morning drop-off and pick-up. https://t.co/BKRO9WchvU

— Elliot in the Morning (@EITMonline) August 13, 2024

“The mother assumed the child had already escaped and began to move forward,” said Officer Kenneth Watson with the Florida Highway Patrol. Fox 13“She stopped immediately when she heard a child screaming.”

The girl suffered serious injuries and was transported by helicopter to Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital in St. Petersburg, WFTS reported.

FOX13 reported that officers noted signs along the right-turn lane indicated parents should drop off their children in a designated area in front of the school.

“But in this accident, it wasn't the speed of the vehicle that caused the injuries,” Watson told the outlet. “It was simply someone in a hurry and acting on impulse.”

Booker Middle School Principal LaShawn Frost wrote a letter to parents informing them about the incident, saying, “This is a reminder of the importance of following the safety protocols we have in place.”

“The bottom line on the first day of school is to be aware of school zones, drive safely, have good situational awareness and again, make sure all pedestrians are out of the way before you pull in,” Watson told FOX 13, adding that the accident could have been avoided if the mother had been more careful.