Joy Frances Collins, who told eight-year-old daughter, 8, to crawl under idling train to catch a bus before child was killed when locomotive started to move, is jailed for six years
- Joy Frances Collins was arrested and charged with child abuse and child endangerment in the horrific act that took place in December 2018
- Collins daughter Joyanna Harris was dragged nearly 100 yards by a freight train
- Collins pleaded for mercy and to avoid jail time but was convicted Tuesday
A California mother who urged her eight-year-old daughter to crawl under an idling train that started moving has been killed and jailed for six years.
Joy Frances Collins was found guilty of child abuse and child endangerment following the despicable act that left her daughter, Joyanna Harris, dead shortly after the December 2018 incident.
Collins had instructed both of her children to crawl under the freight train so they could catch a bus on the other side of the tracks. Her nine-year-old son survived the horrific ordeal but suffered injuries, although it is unclear what type of injuries he suffered.
Before Collins was sentenced Tuesday, she pleaded with the judge and asked for mercy to avoid jail time. She appeared distressed as she told the court: “Not a day goes by that I don't regret that.”
Collins' son is in the care of his grandparents.
Pictured: Joy Frances Collins was arrested and found guilty of child abuse and child endangerment following the despicable act that left her daughter, Joyanna Harris, 8, dead moments after urging her under the railroad tracks during the December 2018 incident to crawl
Collins cried in court Tuesday and was sentenced to six years behind bars
The train tracks and the spot where little Joyanna Harris was killed after being dragged almost 100 meters when the stationary train started moving
Fresno police alleged that Collins told her daughter to “hurry up” before she was dragged nearly 100 yards by a freight train at the railroad crossing at North Diana Street and Belmont Avenue.
During her court appearance in October, Fresno Police Detective Paul Hill told the jury that Collins “didn't want to miss the bus.” ABC30 News Previously reported.
He also said she said that “she felt it was safe to cross.”
Jason Wilson, a paramedic and ICU nurse, said the little girl had “severe injuries” and was “unresponsive.”
Harrowing photos were shown in court of Joyanna, who was run over by the train carriage and then dragged almost a hundred meters.
Also among the photos jurors saw was a “no trespassing” sign posted near where the tragic incident occurred.
According to testimony, the freight train the little girl was on passed through Fresno on its way to Barstow.
Vicent Garza, a crime scene technician with the Fresno Police Department, said the impact came from the second train car. He said, “There was blood on that train car.”
The photos were so disturbing that at one point Collins had to leave the courtroom.