Mother drives off with child riding on the roof of the car in Western Australia

The mother of a four-year-old boy filmed riding on the roof of a car as she drove on a Perth Highway has been charged with dangerous driving.

Western Australia Police told News Corp Australia a 36-year-old woman from the Perth suburb of Camillo will be summonsed to appear in court on a later date on the serious offence.

It comes after security camera footage obtained by Nine News yesterday showed a boy in nothing but a nappy clinging to the roof racks of a car for about 10 minutes.

The incident took place at around 5.45pm on Friday on the Tonkin Highway between the suburbs of Camillo and Harrisdale.

A spokesman for WA Police yesterday told News Corp Australia there were two other children in the car but they were properly restrained in their seats.

It’s believed the mother was unaware the child was on the roof of the moving car until it was pointed out to her by other drivers.

“Other motorists managed to get the attention of the driver who stopped and placed the child in the car before driving away,” the police spokesman said.

Canning Vale Police responded to reports of the bizarre incident and located the Holden Captiva driving into a petrol station on Nicholson Road, Harrisdale.

“Police observed three children in the car, two secured in child restraint seats however it will be alleged that a four-year-old boy was unrestrained.”

Witnesses told the Nine Network the boy was oblivious to the danger he was in.

“The child seemed fine and looked like he was enjoying himself,” a witness said.

Other witness said they felt “sick to the stomach” after seeing the boy on the moving car.