Boy Thrown From Car Goes Home With Grandma

Stephen Haddad, the little boy whose mother tossed him from a speeding car onto an Interstate 95 median last week, went home to grandma’s Wednesday, his arms full of stuffed animals and other toys.

His mother, KrisAnn Haddad, is in the Martin County, Fla., jail on charges of attempted murder and aggravated child abuse. Police say she was driving crazily on the interstate north of West Palm Beach Feb. 19 when witnesses saw her yank Stephen from his car seat, dangle him out the window and toss him out of the car.

The heart-wrenching scene of the toddler wailing in pain and disbelief touched people across America. They flooded St. Mary’s Hospital in West Palm Beach with offers of toys, money and adoption.

Hospital spokeswoman Pat Bowers said Stephen, who will be 3 in May, was in good spirits when he left Wednesday. He is a charming boy who won the hearts of the hospital staff.

“He was sitting in his car seat, looking around,” Bowers said of Stephen’s exit. “He’s such a cute little boy. I think it’s wonderful for this story to have a happy ending.”

But it’s still unclear who will have legal custody of Stephen. His mother’s parents, Gail and Joseph McCloskey of North Palm Beach, took him to their home. They have custody of another of KrisAnn Haddad’s children, a 6-year-old girl.

Stephen went home with a carload of toys donated by people across the country.

“He had Snoring Ernie, I Love You Elmo, some darling plates and books, and teddy bears galore,” Bowers said. “He was just a favorite of the nurses. We’re hoping that when all this becomes more of a memory and not reality, he’ll come back and visit.”