A mother in Alabama allegedly ran her 7-year-old child over with her car after forcing him to walk home from school as punishment, according to the New York Post.

Sarai Rachel James, 27, allegedly ran Boaz's son over with her car on February 9 after telling him to “walk or run home” as punishment for causing trouble at Boaz's school. according to To the outlet. The newspaper said her mother was informed of her son's misconduct by the school's principal, who urged him to discipline her.

Mother hits 7-year-old son with car after walking him from school as punishmenthttps://t.co/TL2alcovC2

— Walter Straiten (@WalterStra86430) February 18, 2024

James said the girl forced the boy out of her car about eight blocks from her home, then drove behind or next to him, the paper said. Before returning home, the boy tried to grab the door handle of the allegedly slow car before his mother accelerated. Boaz Police Chief Michael Abercrombie said the boy was then dragged under the car. mcclatchy news.

“She may not have been aware that he was doing this,” Abercrombie said of the victim's mother.

The child was taken to the University of Alabama Hospital after the incident. The man suffered abrasions to his back and side of the head, the paper said. (Related: 1-year-old girl dies after mother accidentally ran over her)

“God was watching over him,” the police chief said, according to the newspaper.

According to the newspaper, James was arrested and charged with aggravated child abuse. The suspect is currently prohibited from having contact with his son and was released on $50,000 bail three days after his arrest, jail records show.

A 53-year-old woman who was a passenger in the car at the time of the crash also faces a misdemeanor charge of endangering the welfare of a child. She was released on $500 bail, the newspaper said.